THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 6, 1995 TAG: 9508060020
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
LENGTH: Short : 38 lines
Testing requirements and weather concerns have yet again delayed the first commercial rocket launch from Wallops Flight Facility.
The 56-foot Conestoga rocket, which had been rescheduled twice for launching Wednesday, now will not pierce the heavens before late this week.
Mike Bryant, the director of corporate affairs at EER Systems Inc., said the launch is now tentatively scheduled for ``no earlier than 5 p.m. Friday or Saturday.''
The launch had been set for July 29, and then was postponed until today. Last week, it was moved to this Wednesday because of weather considerations associated with Hurricane Erin. Officials with EER Space Systems say they're interested in a successful launch, not a race with the calendar.
The latest delay, Bryant said, was ordered ``because of additional testing required of the spacecraft and concerns of remnants of the hurricane weather predicted to come east.''
Hurricane Erin, which slammed into Pensacola, Fla., on Thursday, was over the Ohio River Valley on Saturday and was forecast to steer northeast into Pennsylvania and New England.
While no longer packing hurricane winds, the storm is proving to be a huge rain maker with some nasty thunderstorms. And while it may track well north of Eastern Virginia, some unsettled weather associated with it could reach the Old Dominion. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
BILL TIERNAN/Staff
Weather conditions have put off the rocket's launch again.
by CNB