WIRE Launch Info

WIRE Unable To Attain Stable Attitude

Press releases:

WIRE launched at 6:57pm PST Thursday March 4, 1999

The March 1 attempt was aborted about a minute before drop.


The following timeline shows major activities. All times are PST.
11:45pm After six passes, the attitude is not stabilizing. WIRE engineers are troubleshooting the problem.
8:35pm After two passes, WIRE is looking good! The solar arrays are deployed, the primary vent is open, and temperatures look good. The attitude is stabilizing but WIRE isn't power positive yet.
7:26pm Contact from McMurdo!
7:00pm The launch was visible from Vandenberg. Everything is nominal! The first pass, over McMurdo, will occur in about 20 minutes.
6:57pm Drop!
6:49pm The `L-7' mark. Everything is nominal.
6:44pm Transition spacecraft to internal power.
6:36pm Begin configuring payload for drop.
6:32pm The `L-25' mark. Everything is nominal.
5:55pm The L-1011 has taken off!
5:45pm The L-1011 and the F-18 chase plane are preparing for take off.
5:15pm The L-1011 is stopped on the runway; we're in a 30 minute `built-in hold'.
5:08pm The L-1011 started to taxi.
4:30pm The L-1011 is starting its engines.
4:20pm Weather report: conditions are green and expected to remain green. It is clear and windy on the runway at Vandenberg.
3:47pm Fairing closeout is complete.
3:20pm Spacecraft checkout is complete.
2:57pm Spacecraft power up.
2:30pm The countdown is proceding. The vehicle is ahead of schedule; the instrument closeout is on schedule. The WIRE spacecraft will power up when the instrument closeout completes, in about a half hour.
2:00pm Pegasus is powering up.
1:20pm Open checklist.
1:15pm Voice check.
1:00pm On station.
12:15pm Instrument liquid Helium disconnect.
11:00am Spacecraft closeout.
8:00am Start battery top-off.
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