SpaceX Falcon Launch Delayed 24 hrs by US Army SMDC

[kcowing]

Message sent to media by SpaceX:

Hello,

SpaceX was just informed that "in order to facilitate preparations for a
missile defense launch", the Army Space and Missile Defense Command
(SMDC) has bumped the SpaceX Falcon 1 maiden flight from its officially
scheduled launch date of Friday, November 25 at 1 p.m. PST (9 p.m. GMT).
The new launch time is Saturday, November 26 1 p.m. PST (9 p.m. GMT).  

We will still be offering the media viewing as well as the call in
option on launch day.  Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have
any questions.

Cell 323-401-0685
Best regards,
Dianne Molina

[Mark Max Q]

Thanks Keith, I've been looking for a reason for the delay, and you've saved me a search. Anyone know how the weather looks for the Saturday attempt?

[Colby]

The weather still looks like crap: http://www.weather.com/activities/other/other/weather/tenday-details.html?locid=USRM0001&from=dayDetails_bottomnav_undeclared&dayNum=1 . 

[Terry Rocket]

That's a bit unlucky for them. You'd think the military would have not left it a day before telling them that?

[Chris Bergin]

Terry Rocket - 25/11/2005  10:26 AM

That's a bit unlucky for them. You'd think the military would have not left it a day before telling them that?

So it seems.

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=876&posts=11

Ben - 25/11/2005  4:53 AM

They say range issues. I'm always at odds with those decisions, as range activities are usually planned well ahead of time.

Hopefully Braddock (our "private space" writer) will see if they'll elaborate, but I get the feeling that reason - with it being military - an elaboration won't be forthcoming due to national security? Or do I need more coffee this morning?

[British NASA]

It'll be interesting to see if they'd of had a shot when we see what the weather was at 1pm their time tonight.

[kcowing]

Just got another SpaceX update:

Update 24 Nov 2005 9:10 pm EST: All prelaunch preparation is complete.  The final task of test firing the torch igniters worked on the first attempt, making us green for launch.  Since our launch was bumped by a day to Saturday (California time), we will make tomorrow a shorter day and do some of the optional checkouts of systems that might cause a halt in the countdown.

[Chris Bergin]

Cool. Right, I think we're best moving to an 26th Nov. Attempt update thread.

Everything into here now:

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=918