[Launch Alert] Launch Scrubbed

[Brian Webb]

                            LAUNCH ALERT
 				  
			           Brian Webb
		         Ventura County, California
		        E-mail: kd6nrp@earthlink.net
	         Web Site: http://www.spacearchive.info

				           2004 March 24 (Wednesday) 08:04 PST
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                    MINUTEMAN III LAUNCH SCRUBBED

This morning's test launch of an unarmed Minuteman III missile from
Vandenberg AFB was cancelled due to technical problems. The ICBM was
scheduled for launch at 00:01 PST, the start of a six-hour launch
window.

But before the launch window opened, the countdown was already in an
unscheduled hold at T-14 minutes. A GPS-based system on the Minuteman
designed to send the vehicle's position to tracking stations on the
ground wasn't working properly.

The problem appeared to be solved and the countdown was resumed for a
01:04 PST launch attempt. However, the count was abruptly halted
moments before launch when the tracking system began acting up
again. The launch was eventually cancelled at 02:55 PST.

A new date for the launch has not been announced, but the Air Force
said it would occur no earlier than next week.