July 14, 2004

Gretchen Cook-Anderson 
Headquarters, Washington
(Phone: 202/358-0836)

Alan Buis
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
(Phone: 818/653-8339 or at 
Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.: 805/605-3051)

Bruce Buckingham
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
(Phone at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif: 805/605-3051) 

NOTE TO EDITORS: N04-106

LAUNCH ADVISORY: AURA LAUNCH POSTPONED

The launch of NASA's Aura spacecraft atop a Boeing Delta II rocket was 
scrubbed this morning due to an issue with one of the two batteries 
on the second stage of the Delta II launch vehicle. At approximately 
three minutes before the scheduled liftoff time, as the batteries 
were being transferred to internal power, the battery current level 
dropped below prescribed limits, triggering a launch hold. 

Engineers and mission managers are assessing the situation and will 
meet at 6 p.m. EDT (3 p.m. PDT) today to decide a date for the next 
launch attempt. Two options are being considered. The first is to 
attempt a launch on Thursday morning, July 15, during a three-minute 
launch window that opens at 6:01:59 a.m. EDT (3:01:59 a.m. PDT). The 
second option under consideration is to stand down until Saturday, 
July 17, due to range conflicts at Vandenberg Air Force Base. 

Weather is a concern for a launch attempt on Thursday morning. The 
current forecast calls for only a 60 percent probability of 
acceptable weather conditions. The primary concerns are for thick 
clouds and the possibility of triggered lightning in the launch area 
due to the remnants of daytime thunderstorm activity in Southern 
California. In addition, Tropical Storm Blas, off the coast of Baja 
California, could prevent a P3 aircraft from flying to its launch 
support position. The P3 relays telemetry from the launch vehicle 
back to the launch team at Vandenberg.

The next launch update will be issued following the mission management 
team meeting this afternoon.

An Aura recorded launch status for the news media is available at: 
805/734-2693.

	
-end-