The planned launch of a $1.2 billion research satellite from the Central Coast has been postponed for at least a day.
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 goal is to survey about 90% of the earth’s surface.
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 wanted to review the situation.
The new plan is to launch the satellite Friday, during a launch window which starts at 3:46 a.m.
