Poker Flat, Alaska, Feb. 15, 2000 — Poor weather conditions over Alaska
have prevented the launch of a Canadian-built rocket and payload on a
scientific mission to study the Northern Lights.
The launch window for the Canadian Space Agency’s GEODESIC
(Geoelectrodynamics and Electro-Optical Detection of Electron and
Suprathermal Ion Currents) mission, which also includes instruments funded by
NASA, was scheduled to be launched between February 4-14. However,
cloudy skies coupled with unusually warm weather for the past two weeks
presented less than ideal launch conditions at the NASA facility at Poker Flat,
Alaska.
The new launch window has been scheduled to start on February 23. Since
GEODESIC will get its ideal readings of the aurora borealis when the night sky
is darkest, the next launch window, like the last one, will correspond with the
waning of the moon.
A post-launch press release will be sent out to members of the media.
A backgrounder on GEODESIC is available online at:
http://www.science.sp-agency.ca/L3-GEODESIC(Eng).htm.
For more information:
Yanik Deschênes
Public and Media Relations
Canadian Space Agency
Tel.: (450) 926-4350
Cell.: (5l4) 945-4522
