DART launch delayed

[CalliArcale]

The DART vehicle, intended to demonstrate a new automated rendezvous system, was due to launch today (after having been already delayed since last week due to problems with the GPS system on board the target satellite), will not launch after all. The launch has been scrubbed because of contamination in the payload fairing on the Pegasus rocket. By the time it is cleaned and remated to the Lockheed Tristar carrier aircraft, they will have lost their oppportunity. Tomorrow, the military has booked use of the Western Range. Furthermore, lingering solar activity from a CME which impacted the Earth yesterday is making the attempt problematic.<br /><br />The next launch attempt is tentatively slated for next Tuesday. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>