Image above: ST-5 firing room. Image credit: NASA

ST5 launch to be rescheduled

The launch of ST5 was called off yesterday when a locking pin in the rocket's flight control service mechanism did not retract just prior to launch.

Orbital Sciences Corporation and NASA engineers will diagnose and correct the problem. A new launch date will be set at the earliest opportunity pending resolution of the issue. The delay will be at least 48 hours.

ST5 Mission
NASA's Space Technology 5 (ST5) Project is building and testing three smaller satellites called micro-satellites. These micro-sats will test and validate new technologies for future science missions. The hope is that ST5 will demonstrate the benefits of a group of small low-cost spacecraft taking measurements at the same time in different locations. Building and testing of all three micro-sats is currently underway and scheduled for launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) on March 11, 2006. ST5 is scheduled to operate in space for at least 90 days.

ST5's objective is to demonstrate and flight qualify several innovative technologies and concepts for application to future space missions.

The ST5 Project is a part of NASA's New Millennium Program, which was created to identify, develop, build, and test innovative technologies and concepts for use in future missions. Its missions are guided by future needs of NASA's Earth and Space Science program.

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