Atlas Booster Valve Issue Postpones ViaSat-3 F2 Satellite Launch
United Launch Alliance (ULA) postponed the scheduled Atlas 5 rocket launch on Wednesday night due to a valve problem that could not be resolved within the launch window. The rocket was set to carry a communications satellite for the California-based company Viasat.
Cause of Scrub
"An issue encountered while cycling the booster liquid oxygen tank valve during final checkouts forced them to stand down from a launch attempt and target a day later."
Launch Details
- Location: Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
- Initial scheduled liftoff: 10:16 p.m. EST (0316 UTC)
- Launch window duration: 44 minutes
- Flight path: due east from Florida’s Space Coast
- Payload: 6-metric-ton communications satellite
- Orbit target: geosynchronous transfer orbit, deploys about 3.5 hours after liftoff
- Rocket configuration: Atlas 5 in 551 version
Weather Forecast
The 45th Weather Squadron predicted a 95% chance of favorable weather during the launch window. Meteorologists noted only a slight chance of interference from cumulus clouds.
"High pressure will bring fair weather to the Space Coast on both the primary and backup days. For the primary window, a ridge axis over Central Florida will develop light, onshore winds and partly cloudy skies."
Spaceflight Now plans to provide live coverage starting approximately one hour before liftoff.
Author's summary: A valve issue in the Atlas 5 rocket's liquid oxygen system caused the delay of the ViaSat-3 F2 satellite launch, now rescheduled with favorable weather expected.