Orion hopes to launch Friday—if rocket worksCNBC.com
Jane Wells | @janewells | 22 Mins Ago
The United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket carrying NASA's first Orion deep space exploration craft is seen at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Space Launch Complex 37, Dec. 3, 2014 in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Getty ImagesLockheed Martin hopes to launch its Orion space capsule Friday, but only if engineers for the Delta IV Heavy rocket provided by the United Launch Alliance can fix a problem with fuel tank valves. And if the weather cooperates.
Orion is NASA's best hope to put humans in deep space. Thursday's planned maiden voyage—an unmanned test flight—was scrubbed after a series of delays caused booster rocket fuel valves to get cold and sluggish. Early indications are that the sticking valves were in the liquid hydrogen tanks, "being significantly colder" than the liquid oxygen tanks, said Dan Collins, ULA's chief operating officer. ULA is a consortium of Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
"This is something we have seen on a previous heavy launch," Collins said. "We are very confident that we are going to be able to exonerate the hardware."
Engineers are looking at data from the valves and hope to have the problem solved so that another launch attempt can be made Friday morning at 7:05 a.m. ET.
There have been only seven previous launches of the Delta IV Heavy. When reporters questioned the reliability of the rocket, Collins replied, "The valves have worked many times very well."
If the launch on Friday is scrubbed, Lockheed Martin could try again on Saturday, but that decision will have to be made before fueling begins early Friday. Otherwise, the tanks on the launchpad will probably need to be refilled.
Even though Lockheed Martin has secured the launchpad only through Saturday, Orion Program Manager Mike Hawes said it's possible they can stay until Sunday. However, after that, support crews will need to be diverted to a launch on the West Coast for a different mission on Dec. 11.
The United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket carrying NASA's first Orion deep space exploration craft is seen at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Space Launch Complex 37, Dec. 3, 2014 in Cape Canaveral, Fla.
Thursday's launch attempt had several hiccups. First, there appeared to be a ship in restricted waters east of the launchpad shortly before liftoff at 7:05 a.m. ET.
Twice after that, the launch was aborted as the words, "Hold, hold, hold!" went out over the communication system. The cause: Ground winds topped 21 knots.
"As the rocket lifts off, a wind can push the rocket," said Collins. Depending on where the wind is coming from, "It's like blowing on a knife or blowing on a garage door."
Even if the valve issues are fixed, there are other concerns. For one, the weather appears less favorable. Lockheed Martin also wants to keep an eye on how many false starts there are, because each time they are within 8 minutes of liftoff, they put Orion on its own battery power. After an abort, it's put back on external power. Lockheed's Mike Hawes said engineers are assessing, "How many cycles can we do?"
Whether Orion can lift off Friday on its $370 million trip and 20,000 mph re-entry depends on what rocket scientists find out about the valves.
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