[Satellite TODAY Insider 10-07-10] NASA has delayed the launch of its Glory climate change detection satellite due to a problem with a control mechanism in one of its two solar arrays, the agency announced Oct. 6.
    The Glory satellite, built by Orbital Sciences and worth more than $400 million, originally was scheduled for launch an Orbital Sciences Taurus XL rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in late November. The mission  now has been postponed until Feb. 23.
    The technical error was reported on two of the satellite’s deployable solar array wings, which have X- and S-band RF communications capabilities. The structure consists of an octagonal aluminum space frame and a blow-down hydrazine propulsion module that contains enough fuel for the satellite’s 36-month mission.
     NASA said it is not taking any chances with the satellite after its previous satellite research tool, the Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO), failed shortly after its February 2009 launch on a Taurus XL rocket when a fairing designed to protect the payload from heat failed to separate. Following the failure, a NASA board of inquiry determined four possible causes of the fairing separation failure. This time, NASA will take the three months to review both the Glory spacecraft and its Taurus XL launcher.
    Glory was implemented to replace the OCO and specialize in monitoring aerosols in the atmosphere and total solar irradiance — key factors in climate change. “Though sometimes a payload’s fairing is unavoidably damaged during ascent, engineers try to take every precaution and plan for any scenario. If a solar array fails to deploy properly, the craft’s power supply can become compromised, jeopardizing the mission,” NASA said in a statement.
    While U.S. Air Force officials told Satellite TODAY Insider that they do not yet know the delay’s impact to its Vandenberg launch schedule, it is not expected to push back the launch of two U.S. National Reconnaissance Office payloads on Minotaur 1 and Atlas 5 rockets, scheduled to lift off between March and May of 2011.

Related Stories-

U.S. Congress Passes NASA Authorization Act, Defense Trade Cooperation    Satellite Today   October 1, 2010
[Satellite TODAY 10-01-10] U.S. Congress passed the NASA Authorization Act of 2010 and defense trade cooperation treaties between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia on Sept. 30 two key pieces of legislation for the aerospace and…

NASA Ships Fastsat to Orbital Sciences Alaska Launch Complex   Satellite Today   August 13, 2010
[Satellite TODAY 08-13-10] NASA’s first microsatellite, Fastsat, has arrived at Kodiak Island, Alaska, from NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center to begin final launch preparations with Orbital Sciences, the agency announced Aug. 12.

Orbital Selected As Prime Contractor for NASA Small Rocket Program    Satellite Today   August 2, 2010
[Satellite TODAY 08-02-10] Orbital Sciences has been selected by NASA as the prime contractor under the Sounding Rocket Operations Contract 2 (NSROC 2) program, the company announced July 30. The 2 contract carries a maximum total value of…