THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 28, 1995 TAG: 9507280423
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMES SCHULTZ, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
To our readers: Because of a production error, the first portion of this story was repeated and the final portion was omitted in Thursday's newspaper. The story is reprinted here in full.
The launch of a five-story Conestoga rocket on Sunday, Aug. 6, could rattle even the most exhausted Eastern Shore residents out of a sound morning's sleep.
Liftoff has been set for 6:20 a.m. from NASA's Wallops Island rocket range, NASA officials and representatives from Conestoga's manufacturer, EER Systems Inc. of Northern Virginia, said Wednesday.
The rocket will carry 11 scientific experiments into orbit inside a satellite nestled in the Conestoga's nose cone. One experiment will test the weightless growth of protein crystals that could be used to treat cancer; another will test a new kind of solar energy collector. In-orbit maturation of plant seedlings also will be investigated.
The launch was delayed from its original date, July 29, because of complicated equipment tests, summer storms over the Eastern Shore and potential conflicts with other NASA flights. Weather could force another postponement, officials say, but equipment checks are on schedule.
``We don't anticipate any problems,'' said Jim Hengle, vice president and general manager of EER's Space Systems Group. ``I don't see anything that will cause any delay or postponement.''
The Conestoga will be the first rocket in 10 years sent into orbit from Wallops, one of just three rocket-launch bases in the continental United States. Kennedy Space Center in Florida and Vandenberg Air Force Base in California are the other two.
Although Wallops has overseen the flight of 15,000 small research rockets since its founding in 1945, the Conestoga flight will be the first large-scale commercial launch at the Eastern Shore facility. The vehicle's 1-ton payload will also be the heaviest ever launched from Wallops.
Roughly 120 people from EER and NASA together are preparing the Conestoga for launch.
``In one sense, this represents a new experience for most of Wallops and the EER crew,'' said Ray Stanley, a senior NASA Wallops official. ``People are getting excited. People are getting intense.''
The Conestoga liftoff will be clearly visible on the Eastern Shore, as the rocket ascends east over the Atlantic from its oceanfront launch pad. From Hampton Roads, the view of the blastoff probably will be limited to a white vapor trail high above the horizon.
Because the Wallops Island launch site is separated from the mainland by some 2 1/2 miles, the rocket's rumble will be most jarring to those closest to the island range. Since there is no public viewing area, skywatchers will have to make their own arrangements to experience the pyrotechnics.
``Basically, she's up in orbit 10 minutes after she launches,'' said EER's Hengle. ``We've put a lot of sweat, hours and years into this. We're ready to go.'' MEMO: Staff writer Karen Jolly Davis contributed to this report. by CNB