ULA Postpones Communications Satellite Launch to Thursday
The ViaSat-3 Flight 2 mission, scheduled to launch on an Atlas V 551 rocket, was postponed by United Launch Alliance (ULA). The launch was planned to take off from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Launch Delay Details
On Wednesday, ULA halted the launch attempt due to an issue encountered about 10 minutes before the planned liftoff at 10:24 p.m. ET. Specifically, the problem occurred while "cycling the booster liquid oxygen tank vent valve during final checkouts."
The launch window for the Wednesday attempt was from 10:24 p.m. to 11:08 p.m. ET. After initially placing the countdown in an unplanned hold, ULA officially scrubbed the launch around 10:50 p.m.
The launch of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V carrying the ViaSat-3 F2 mission for @viasat was scrubbed due to an issue encountered while cycling the booster liquid oxygen tank vent valve during final checkouts. The team will require additional time…
Next Steps
ULA announced it will try launching again on Thursday, with a 44-minute launch window beginning at 10:16 p.m. ET. If successful, the 205-foot-tall (62.5-meter) Atlas V 551 rocket will carry the ViaSat-3 Flight 2 satellite into orbit from the same launch complex.
Launch Vehicle and Location
- Rocket: Atlas V 551
- Height: 205 feet (62.5 meters)
- Launch Site: Space Launch Complex-41, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Author’s summary: United Launch Alliance delayed the ViaSat-3 Flight 2 satellite launch due to an oxygen tank valve issue and will attempt liftoff again on Thursday evening with a precise launch window.