A satellite launch from the Central Coast originally planned for last week has now been postponed until at least September 26th, as a result of a brush fire burning on Vandenberg Air Force Base.
The Atlas V liftoff was originally set for last Thursday, but was postponed due to a small fuel leak. The launch was pushed back to Sunday. Then, the outbreak of the Canyon Fire on the south part of the base Saturday prompted another postponement. The launch pad area isn’t threatened, but the firefighters normally on standby for every launch are busy battling the blaze.
United Launch Alliance officials say once the fire has been dealt with, the rocket will be ready for the next window to put the WorldView-4 satellite into orbit from the base. It’s an advanced commercial imaging satellite which can help researchers monitor changes in the planet’s environment.
