Dave Steitz
Headquarters, Washington, DC                 October 30, 1996
(Phone:  757/824-1776)

Keith Koehler
Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, VA
(Phone:  757/824-1579)


RELEASE:  96-222

SAC-B/HETE LAUNCH HALTED

	Launch of the SAC-B and HETE satellites aboard an 
Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC) Pegasus XL launch vehicle 
was halted today during the terminal countdown.  Officials 
said the locking pin on the rudder of the Pegasus vehicle did 
not disengage.  After repeated commands to disengage the pin, 
the allowable time window for launch after activating the fin 
battery lapsed.  This condition requires an automatic return 
to the Wallops Flight Facility.

	During the flight of the OSC L-1011 carrier aircraft, 
there were no indications of anomalies with either the SAC-B 
or HETE spacecraft.  The replacement of the single-use 
thermal battery requires a minimum of two days.  However, the 
new launch date will not be set until analysis of the problem 
can be completed.

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