What happened yesterday?
The final countdown was stopped 4 minutes and 1 second before the planned launch time because of a measurement anomaly in the liquid oxygen propellant tank of the cryogenic main stage for Ariane 5’s Flight v200 launch.
The launch vehicle and its payload – the Automated Transfer Vehicle Johannes Kepler – remain on the pad in safe mode, awaiting a restart of launch countdown today, 16 February.The new launch time is set for tonight at 21:50:55 UTC = 18:50:55 local time in Kourou = 22:50:55 CET.
The teams here at ATV-CC have planned for launch delays many times in training; the trajectory calculations and related actions are now being verified and the control room is ready for the new launch attempt this evening.
Discussion: 5 comments
What is the main reason? I did not get it from the broadcast.
Anyway will wait for news and the next attempt!
For the interestet people it is nice to watch a launch in real time on the PC.
To wait for more than 2 hours without any further news regarding the launch
delay is unacceptable. I switch off and go to bed. Goed by ATV.
info from website of Arianespace:
Ariane 5’s mission with the Automated Transfer Vehicle is postponed 24 hours
February 15, 2011 – Ariane Flight 200
The heavy-lift Ariane 5 mission with Europe’s second Automated Transfer Vehicle has been reset for tomorrow evening following a launch hold during today’s final countdown operations.
A measurement anomaly in the liquid oxygen propellant tank of Ariane 5’s cryogenic main stage caused the launch hold at just prior to 4 minutes before the scheduled liftoff. Both the launch vehicle and its payload of the Automated Transfer Vehicle Johannes Kepler remain in a safe mode, awaiting a restart of final countdown operations.
The new launch date for this historic mission – which will be the 200th flight of an Ariane vehicle, with the heaviest payload ever for an Ariane 5 – is now set for February 16 at 21hr. 50min. 55 sec. Universal Time, or 18hr. 50min. 55sec. local time at the Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
disappointment: No more news here… while more news are available on other websites. And also no post on the atmosphere during or after the launch attempt… Come on , keep up the rythm!!!