[Launch Alert] Launch Scrubbed

Fri May 13 13:52:09 EDT 2005

                             LAUNCH ALERT

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

				                2005 May 13 (Friday) 10:51 PDT
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                      DELTA II LAUNCH SCRUBBED

ST. LOUIS, May 13, 2005 - Boeing and NASA scrubbed today's launch
attempt of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
satellite, NOAA-N, aboard a Boeing Delta II rocket from Vandenberg Air
Force Base, Calif.

One of four water deluge system pumps located in a facility near the
launch pad failed during the countdown. The launch team was unable to
identify the cause of the failure and resolve the issue in time to
meet the 10-minute window at 3:22 a.m. PDT.

The next launch attempt is scheduled for May 14, with the same
10-minute window opening at 3:22 a.m. PDT, pending resolution of the
issue.

Information courtesy of Boeing

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                     LAUNCH VIEWING INFORMATION

I occasionally receive e-mails from people asking if an upcoming
launch will be visible, inquiring about launch viewing locations, etc.

These and other topics related to viewing Vandenberg rocket and
missile launches are covered at www.spacearchive.info/vafbview.htm.

If you have a question regarding launch viewing that the above page
doesn't cover, please let me know.

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                       MARS-URANUS CONJUNCTION

Early risers have a chance to see a planetary pairing and spot an
outer planet this Saturday morning. Earth's neighbor Mars and the
distant planet Uranus will be separated by 1.2° as they rise on May
14.

Mars will shine brightly at magnitude +0.5 and be easily visible to
the naked eye. In contrast, Uranus will be much fainter - magnitude
+5.8 - and will only be visible to the unaided eye from very dark
locations.

To spot this pairing, observers in the Southwest should look low in
the east about 90 minutes before sunrise. Locate orange-red Mars
which will be about 20 degrees above the horizon. Using binoculars or
a small telescope, look for the much fainter Uranus at the 10 o'clock
with respect to Mars. The full Moon is about 1/2 degree in diameter.
The two planets will be separated by roughly double that amount.

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                           JPL OPEN HOUSE
               Jet Propulsion Laboratory News Release

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., invites the
public to share the "Spirit of Exploration” during its Open House on
Saturday and Sunday, May 14 and 15, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors
will go behind the scenes to learn about exciting missions to study
the solar system, the universe, and our home planet.

Once inside the gates, guests will be able to talk with scientists and
engineers working on JPL missions, and find out how spacecraft are
sent to other planets. Visitors can explore the planets as they walk
through a model of the solar system, build their own spacecraft and
have their picture taken in infrared light.

Visitors will see exhibits, displays and presentations about new
technologies, solar system exploration and spacecraft communication.
Spacecraft models will be on display and movies will highlight the
excitement of the Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn and the upcoming
Deep Impact mission to a comet.

The Open House is a fun and educational event for children too, with
planetary puzzles and games, science projects and the chance to get
rolled over by a rover. High school students will display robots
they built for regional and national competitions.

Admission is free. No backpacks or ice chests are allowed, with the
exception of small purses and diaper bags. Visitors, vehicles and
personal belongings are subject to inspection. Food and beverages
will be available, along with space souvenirs, and JPL and NASA
merchandise.

JPL is located at 4800 Oak Grove Drive. Exit the 210 (Foothill)
Freeway at the Berkshire Avenue/Oak Grove Drive exit in La
Canada-Flintridge.  Parking is available near the Oak Grove Drive
main gate and on the eastern boundary of JPL, accessible from
Windsor Avenue via the Arroyo Boulevard exit off the 210 Freeway.
Buses and tour guides will move people between different locations
around the facility. Walking is required to some locations.

More information is available at http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/pso/oh.cfm
or call (818) 354-0112. Directions are available at
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/about_JPL/directions.cfm.

The California Institute of Technology in Pasadena manages JPL for
NASA.

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