Today’s launch attempt was scrubbed because of a failure in a Vandenberg Air Force Base Space Launch Complex 2 pad water system. The system provides sound suppression to dampen acoustic waves at liftoff and protects a launch pad flame duct. The countdown was halted at T-46 seconds. The Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) spacecraft is on …
NASA Team is ‘Go’
NASA Launch Manager Tim Dunn has polled his launch team to confirm NASA is “go” for an on-time launch. The Delta II rocket and OCO-2 spacecraft are ready for flight and weather continues to cooperate.
T-4 Minutes and Holding
This is a 10-minute hold. In a few minutes, Launch Director Don Malin of United Launch Alliance and NASA Launch Manager Tim Dunn will check with their teams to confirm that the rocket, spacecraft and all the necessary ground systems are ready for launch. The OCO-2 spacecraft is “go” to transfer to internal power.
T-15 Minutes and Counting
The countdown has resumed. There’s one more planned hold coming up at T-4 minutes.
Memorial Honors LSP’s Laurie Walls
The OCO-2 mission has special meaning to NASA’s Launch Services Program, as we have dedicated it to one of our LSP teammates, Laurie Walls. Laurie began her career more than 30 years ago as a thermal engineer for McDonnell Douglas in Huntsville, Alabama, supporting NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. She moved to Florida in 1985 …
T-15 Minutes and Holding
Countdown clocks are holding at the T-15 minute mark. This is a routine hold scheduled to last 20 minutes.
Engine Steering Check
Up next is a check of the rocket’s first- and second-stage engine nozzles, which are put through a pattern of movements, called “slews,” to check their steering capabilities. The second-stage engine is tested first, followed by the first-stage engine. A built-in hold in the countdown is coming up at the T-15 minute mark.
One Hour until Launch
The countdown is proceeding smoothly at exactly one hour until liftoff.
Delta II Fueling Complete
Liquid oxygen has been fully loaded into the Delta II first stage, completing the fueling process. The countdown continues to go well and liftoff remains scheduled for 2:56 a.m. PDT, 5:56 a.m. EDT.
A Foggy Morning at Vandenberg
A thick fog has settled in over the launch area, surrounding the Delta II rocket awaiting liftoff from Space Launch Complex 2. The fog is not a problem for launch.