NASA officials say it’s now a “go” for the planned launch of a $1.2 billion research satellite from the Central Coast which was postponed from Thursday morning.
The Surface Water and Ocean Topography satellite will be used by American and French researchers to do what’s being called the first global survey of Earth’s surface water supply.
The launch was originally set for just before four Thursday morning from Vandenberg Space Force Base. But, the launch team found moisture in two of the nine Falcon 9 engines being used by SpaceX to lift the satellite into orbit. They issued an all clear for the flight to take place Friday.
The new plan is to launch during a window which starts at 3:46 a.m. Friday. The first stage booster is set to land back at Vandenberg Space Force Base, so there could be some early morning sonic booms as it reenters the Earth’s atmosphere.
