The launch of NASA’s ICESat and CHIPSat spacecraft, aboard a Boeing Delta II expendable launch vehicle, has been postponed.
(Editor’s note, I wonder if Eric Estrada will be invited to the CHIPS launch and if so will he have to ride his motorcycle to get there.)
During a review of test data, a problem within an ordnance box was found. The difficulty is associated with the signal the unit provides for launch vehicle devices to unlatch and separate the payload fairing. The removal and replacement of this unit, and the associated retest, will take approximately two weeks.
The launch is targeted to occur no earlier than January 8, 2003, if the work can be successfully completed, as planned.