05.13.05

George H. Diller
NASA Resident Office
Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
(Phone: 805/605-3051) 

RELEASE: 39-05

NASA POSTPONES NOAA-N LAUNCH DUE TO PAD ELECTRICAL ISSUE

The countdown for NASA's launch of NOAA-N aboard a Boeing Delta II 
rocket at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California was terminated at 2 
a.m. PDT today.

One of four water deluge system pumps located in the pump house at 
Space Launch Complex 2 failed. There was not enough time remaining in 
the countdown to restore facility power and retest the total system. 
The water deluge system is used during launch for pad cooling and 
sound suppression.

A 24-hour postponement is planned. Launch has been tentatively 
rescheduled for Saturday, May 14, at 3:22 a.m. PDT at the opening of 
a 10-minute launch window.

Launch coverage on NASA Television will begin at 1 a.m. PDT. NOAA-N is 
a joint mission with NASA.

NOAA-N is the latest polar-orbiting satellite developed by NASA for 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA-N will 
collect information about Earth's atmosphere and environment to 
improve weather prediction and climate research across the globe.

	
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