WIRE Launch Info

Launch is scheduled for 6:57pm PST March 1, 1999


10:00am PST   Launch day activities begin.
Start battery top-off.
11:57am PST   The Helium disconnect begins
3:00pm PST   The disconnect is complete
3:15pm PST   WIRE is powering up.
3:30pm PST   Beginning GSE pullback from the L-1011
4:10pm PST   Weather briefing: conditions are green and predicted to remain green for launch!
4:28pm PST   L-1011 engine start
5:10pm PST L-1:47:00 The L-1011 is taxiing to the runway. It'll take off in about an hour.
5:55pm PST L-1:01:00 The L-1011 has taken off
6:00pm PST L-56:00 The chase plane took off
6:36pm PST L-20:00 Final configuration for drop.
6:40pm PST L-16:19 Spacecraft commanding disabled
6:45pm PST L-11:42 Spacecraft to internal power
6:49pm PST L-7:55 Launch window is GO
6:54pm PST L-3:00 L-1011 enters box
6:55pm PST L-2:00 Mark L-2:00
6:56pm PST L-1:00 Hold
6:57:50pm PST   abort abort. There was a problem with the fin sweep. The next launch attempt will be no earlier than Wednesday evening.
7:24pm PST   The L-1011 landed at Vandenberg AFB.

WIRE was aborted when a locking pin in the Pegasus vehicle's rudder did not disengage. See Orbital Science Corporation's press release.

The next launch attempt is tentatively planned for Thursday evening.


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