Launch of Endeavour delayed by low clouds
Source: Agencies |
February 8, 2010, Monday
|
Print Edition
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CLOUDS prevented space shuttle Endeavour from blasting off yesterday on the last planned nighttime shuttle launch, delaying its trip with a final few building blocks for the International Space Station.
The band of low clouds started moving in from the north late on Saturday. NASA counted down to the nine-minute mark, but the sky remained overcast, offering little hope of a lucky break.
NASA managers said they would try again today, when slightly better conditions were expected.
"We tried really, really hard to work the weather. It was just too dynamic," launch director Mike Leinbach told the six astronauts aboard Endeavour. "We just were not comfortable with launching the space shuttle tonight."
"Sometimes you just got to make the call," replied commander George Zamka. "So we understand and we'll give it another try tomorrow night."
Endeavour is loaded with a new room for the space station, as well as an observation deck. Once both of those are installed, the orbiting complex will be 98 percent complete.
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden reminded journalists on Saturday that there are only five shuttle missions left.
"You're going to have to figure out what else you're going to do, along with us," he said.
In an hour-long news conference, Bolden accepted the blame for the way the NASA work force was informed of President Barack Obama's plans to dismantle the Constellation moon exploration program.
In the proposed budget that was released on Monday, Obama set NASA on a new post-shuttle path. Specifics were lacking, but the moon was no longer at the forefront. Neither were the Ares rockets that NASA had been working on for so long.
"Why wasn't the NASA work force better prepared for this?" Bolden said. "You're looking at the guy who's responsible. I will take the heat."
The band of low clouds started moving in from the north late on Saturday. NASA counted down to the nine-minute mark, but the sky remained overcast, offering little hope of a lucky break.
NASA managers said they would try again today, when slightly better conditions were expected.
"We tried really, really hard to work the weather. It was just too dynamic," launch director Mike Leinbach told the six astronauts aboard Endeavour. "We just were not comfortable with launching the space shuttle tonight."
"Sometimes you just got to make the call," replied commander George Zamka. "So we understand and we'll give it another try tomorrow night."
Endeavour is loaded with a new room for the space station, as well as an observation deck. Once both of those are installed, the orbiting complex will be 98 percent complete.
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden reminded journalists on Saturday that there are only five shuttle missions left.
"You're going to have to figure out what else you're going to do, along with us," he said.
In an hour-long news conference, Bolden accepted the blame for the way the NASA work force was informed of President Barack Obama's plans to dismantle the Constellation moon exploration program.
In the proposed budget that was released on Monday, Obama set NASA on a new post-shuttle path. Specifics were lacking, but the moon was no longer at the forefront. Neither were the Ares rockets that NASA had been working on for so long.
"Why wasn't the NASA work force better prepared for this?" Bolden said. "You're looking at the guy who's responsible. I will take the heat."
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