Officials have announced the rescheduled launch of the GeoLITE
spacecraft on a Boeing Delta II for Friday, May 18 with a 79-minute
launch window opening at 1:07 p.m. and closing at 2:26 p.m. EDT.
Officials delayed the launch by 24 hours as a precautionary
measure when a leak was detected during testing of hoses on another
Delta II first-stage engine at the Boeing Rocketdyne factory in
California. The delay allowed the launch team at Cape Canaveral to
replace similar lines and test them prior to flight.
GeoLITE, or the Geosynchronous Lightweight Technology Experiment,
is a TRW-built spacecraft that will be operated by the National
Reconnaissance Office once in orbit. The satellite has a laser
communications experiment and an operational UHF communications
mission.
Note to Editors:
Launch Viewing: Accredited media wishing to view the launch should
meet at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Pass and
ID building at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 18.
Broadcast information: CONUS Galaxy 4C/20
99(degrees) West
36 MHz transponder
Downlink frequency for Transponder 20:
4100 vertical
Bars and Tone will begin at 12:45 p.m. EDT
Broadcast will begin at 1 p.m. EDT
For more information contact Madonna Walsh 714/272-1019 or Robert
Villanueva 714/330-1781 of Boeing External Communications.
