NASA Scrubs Orion Launch
Credit: NASA
The Thursday, Dec. 4 launch of Orion’s flight test has been scrubbed because of an issue related to fill and drain valves on the Delta IV Heavy rocket that teams could not troubleshoot by the time the launch window expired. The next launch window opens at 7:05 a.m. Eastern on Friday, Dec. 5.
The un-crewed Orion will orbit 3,600 miles above Earth before splashing down in the Pacific. Orion is being designed to carry astronauts on exploration missions into deep space, including a trip to an asteroid and eventually to Mars.
6 responses to “NASA Scrubs Orion Launch”
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Hopefully they get that pork cleared out of the valves in time to try again Friday morning.
Good grief
Without expressing an opinion on the future or cost of Orion/SLS, I’m still waiting for a privately-funded manned launch using privately-paid for hardware. “Private Space” sure does ask for a lot of public money.
;D
It sure greases a lot of wheels to keep this boondoggle going. 9 billion so far for a 4 person, water landing, disposable capsule with another billion a year until 2024… and Shelby says it isn’t a jobs program. ….
Great launch. A Delta IV Heavy launching is always a thrill! Congrats to ULA, Lockheed Martin, the 45th Space Wing and everyone involved on this mission! The first space capsule launched by NASA since Apollo 17.