Delta 4 Heavy on hold for launch 4:31 EST today

SteveS — 12/21/2004 7:35:07 PM (archived)

1916 GMT (2:16 p.m. EST)

T-minus 5 minutes and holding. The countdown has just entered a planned hold point. Clocks will remain here for at least two hours while the launch team plays catchup on fueling and other activities delayed by ground support equipment problems this morning. Liftoff is not expected before 4:25 p.m. EST (2125 GMT). The launch window extends to 5:31 p.m. EST (2231 GMT). Weather continues to look good.

Boeing says problems with the main engine water cooling system, then a liquid oxygen pump were to blame for the delays this morning. It was initially believed that the countdown sequencer was involved in the second issue.

The three Common Booster Cores that will fire to lift the rocket off the Cape Canaveral launch pad are now filled with their supplies of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. Loading of the upper stage is in the early phases.

The whole thread (33 posts)

Delta 4 Heavy on hold for launch 4:31 EST today - SteveS - 12/21/2004 7:35:07 PM
- I may sound like a broken record.... - Jacob Samorodin - 12/22/2004 4:00:19 PM
  - There may be a simplier way to increase the payload - Larry J - 12/22/2004 8:38:57 PM
    - Energia may be what Nasa has planned. I hope. - Lee - 12/23/2004 2:47:30 AM
- Possible lower than expected performance, final burn 10:27 EST - SteveS - 12/22/2004 3:11:41 AM
  - Serious shortfall - Larry J - 12/23/2004 1:15:40 AM
    - re: Serious shortfall - SteveS - 12/23/2004 1:21:13 PM
      - re: Serious shortfall - Larry J - 12/23/2004 3:58:36 PM
        
        re: Serious shortfall - SteveS - 12/24/2004 1:26:13 AM
        
        According to a rumor I've seen online... - Larry J - 12/24/2004 4:55:12 PM
        
        Maybe it packed on some extra pounds while sitting on the launch pad for over a year. ;-) (n/t) - Lee - 12/24/2004 9:57:23 PM
- re:Great details! Fantastic view! - Raoul - 12/21/2004 9:57:36 PM
  - Photo - SteveS - 12/22/2004 2:24:51 AM
    - That's a lot of soot on the side of the rocket. (n/t) - Lee - 12/22/2004 2:56:20 AM
      - Guess it's scorching from the launch, never mind. (n/t) - Lee - 12/22/2004 10:05:36 AM
  - That was very cool (n/t) - Dave - 12/21/2004 10:16:36 PM
    - re: The rocket - Raoul - 12/21/2004 10:40:51 PM
      - Damn! I missed it all - SteveS - 12/22/2004 12:19:22 AM
        
        They're still repeating it on the webcast last time I looked. (n/t) - Tom Brosz - 12/22/2004 5:55:14 PM
        
        Yes, (Great link thread) (n/t) - SteveS - 12/23/2004 1:34:19 PM
- Webcast link - Larry J - 12/21/2004 9:41:57 PM
  - Great link - SteveS - 12/22/2004 2:49:47 AM
- Now planned for 4:50 p.m. EST (n/t) - Dave - 12/21/2004 9:37:28 PM
  - D'OH! I checked in on this board at 1:56 Pacific time. Looks good so far... (n/t) - Tom Brosz - 12/21/2004 9:58:40 PM
    - Geez, that sure doesn't look like a LOX/LH2 engine exhaust. (n/t) - Tom Brosz - 12/21/2004 10:03:21 PM
      - Insulation (thermal shields) burning as designed - SteveS - 12/22/2004 2:58:13 AM
      - re: Geez, that sure doesn't look like a LOX/LH2 engine exhaust. - Doug Ellison - 12/21/2004 10:19:01 PM
        
        Shuttle main engine exhaust seems almost invisible (except for steam) - Tom Brosz - 12/21/2004 11:12:42 PM
        
        Steam? - et - 12/22/2004 5:02:49 AM
        
        re: Shuttle main engine exhaust seems almost invisible (except for steam) - dopey - 12/22/2004 12:35:07 AM
        
        Ah. Ablative nozzle. - Tom Brosz - 12/22/2004 4:53:38 AM
        
        re: Regenerative closed cycle staged combustin engines. - werner - 12/22/2004 1:56:58 PM
        
        I agree.... (n/t) - et - 12/21/2004 10:24:41 PM

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