LOS ANGELES (AP) - NASA is regrouping after it lost the chance to launch a 'flying saucer' into Earth's atmosphere to test Mars technology.
Winds at a military range on the Hawaiian island of Kauai have not cooperated during the two-week launch window that ends on Saturday.
NASA says winds need to be calm for a helium balloon to carry the disc-shaped vehicle over the Pacific so that it doesn't stray into no-fly zones.
The mission tests a novel vehicle and giant parachute designed to land heavy payloads on Mars, where the thin atmosphere presents challenges in slowing a spacecraft to a safe touchdown speed.
NASA has invested $150 million in the project. It will study its options including extending the launch window, which would be an added cost.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Entities 0 Name: NASA Count: 3 1 Name: LOS ANGELES Count: 1 2 Name: Pacific Count: 1 3 Name: opoikiyo.blogspot.com Count: 1 4 Name: AP Count: 1 5 Name: Kauai Count: 1 6 Name: Earth Count: 1 Related 0 Url: http://ift.tt/1quoGfY Title: NASA Scrubs Flying Saucer Test, Sets New Date To Try Again Description: Posted: Print Article LOS ANGELES (AP) - The U.S. space agency has postponed its plan to send a "flying saucer" into Earth's atmosphere to test technology that could be used to land on Mars. NASA spokeswoman Shannon Ridinger says weather conditions caused Wednesday's launch of the saucer-shaped vehicle to be delayed.
Post a Comment for "NASA hopes to launch 'flying saucer' mission in late June after weather delay"