September 9, 2011

NASA to try Moon satellite launch Saturday

Scientists hope the satellites will help them understand how the Moon formed — A Delta 2 heavy launch vehicle with NASA's GRAIL mission to the moon remains sits on launch pad 17B at Cape Canaveral, Florida. NASA has postponed until Saturday its next attempt to launch a $500 million pair of unmanned spacecraft that will use gravity tools to map the Moon's inner core for the first time.

NASA has postponed until Saturday its next attempt to launch a $500 million pair of unmanned spacecraft that will use gravity tools to map the Moon's inner core for the first time.

The launch team said early Friday it needed more time to review technical data following the de-tanking operation of the Delta II rocket carrying NASAs Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL).

"The postponement will allow the launch team additional time to review the data," NASA said in a statement.

Saturday's two launch windows open at 8:29 am (1229 GMT) and 9:08 am (1308 GMT) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

High winds delayed the first attempt moments before takeoff on Thursday.

The weather forecast for Saturday is 60 percent favorable for launch, up from 40 percent on Thursday and Friday, the US space agency said.

Scientists hope the satellites will help them understand how the Moon formed and whether there was once another Moon that melded with it, forming lunar mountains.

Citation: NASA to try Moon satellite launch Saturday (2011, September 9) retrieved 26 April 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2011-09-nasa-moon-satellite-saturday.html

This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Second bid to launch NASA's Moon-bound spacecraft

0 shares

Feedback to editors

NASA to try Moon satellite launch Saturday

Optical barcodes expand range of high-resolution sensor

Ridesourcing platforms thrive on socio-economic inequality, say researchers

Did Vesuvius bury the home of the first Roman emperor?

Florida dolphin found with highly pathogenic avian flu: Report

A new way to study and help prevent landslides

New algorithm cuts through 'noisy' data to better predict tipping points

Researchers reconstruct landscapes that greeted the first humans in Australia around 65,000 years ago

High-precision blood glucose level prediction achieved by few-molecule reservoir computing

Enhancing memory technology: Multiferroic nanodots for low-power magnetic storage

Researchers advance detection of gravitational waves to study collisions of neutron stars and black holes

Relevant PhysicsForums posts

Our Beautiful Universe - Photos and Videos

Solar Activity and Space Weather Update thread

'Devil' comet visible tonight 21.04.24

Waves in space

Documenting the setup of my new telescope

What did I capture?

Second bid to launch NASA's Moon-bound spacecraft

Wind delays NASA launch of twin moon spacecraft (Update)

NASA Postpones Dawn Spacecraft Launch

NASA's twin craft arrive in Florida for moon mission

Japan to launch space cargo mission Saturday

GRAIL moon mission in final preparations for September launch

Japan's moon lander wasn't built to survive a weekslong lunar night. It's still going after 3

NASA's Voyager 1 resumes sending engineering updates to Earth

Simulated microgravity affects sleep and physiological rhythms, study finds

'Tube map' around planets and moons made possible by knot theory

NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter team says goodbye—for now

NASA confirms mystery object that crashed through roof of Florida home came from space station

Medical Xpress

Tech Xplore

Science X

NASA to try Moon satellite launch Saturday

Optical barcodes expand range of high-resolution sensor

Ridesourcing platforms thrive on socio-economic inequality, say researchers

Did Vesuvius bury the home of the first Roman emperor?

Florida dolphin found with highly pathogenic avian flu: Report

A new way to study and help prevent landslides

New algorithm cuts through 'noisy' data to better predict tipping points

Researchers reconstruct landscapes that greeted the first humans in Australia around 65,000 years ago

High-precision blood glucose level prediction achieved by few-molecule reservoir computing

Enhancing memory technology: Multiferroic nanodots for low-power magnetic storage

Researchers advance detection of gravitational waves to study collisions of neutron stars and black holes

Relevant PhysicsForums posts

Related Stories

Second bid to launch NASA's Moon-bound spacecraft

Wind delays NASA launch of twin moon spacecraft (Update)

NASA Postpones Dawn Spacecraft Launch

NASA's twin craft arrive in Florida for moon mission

Japan to launch space cargo mission Saturday

GRAIL moon mission in final preparations for September launch

Recommended for you

Japan's moon lander wasn't built to survive a weekslong lunar night. It's still going after 3

NASA's Voyager 1 resumes sending engineering updates to Earth

Simulated microgravity affects sleep and physiological rhythms, study finds

'Tube map' around planets and moons made possible by knot theory

NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter team says goodbye—for now

NASA confirms mystery object that crashed through roof of Florida home came from space station

Newsletter sign up

Donate and enjoy an ad-free experience