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[Satellite TODAY 10-12-12] The U.S. Air Force has launched an investigation into an upper-stage engine glitch that occurred last week during an unmanned United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta 4 rocket launch that carried a GPS navigational satellite into orbit, ULA confirmed Oct. 12.
Future flights of the Delta 4 rocket are on hold pending results of the investigation. The GPS 2F satellite reached its intended orbit despite the problem on the Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne–built RL10 engine. ULA and the engine manufacturer are also investigating the incident.
“The onboard inertial guidance and flight control systems compensated for the lower thrust conditions and the Delta second stage delivered the satellite to the proper orbit,” ULA said in a statement.
ULA has scheduled its next Atlas 5 mission to launch a robotic miniature space shuttle for Oct. 25.
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