Launch of NRO Payload Aborted at Last Minute Written 31 August 2020
A ULA Delta IV Heavy rocket raised to the vertical position; NASA
CNN reported that the early morning launch of a “Delta IV Heavy rocket was scrubbed on Saturday, just seconds before its planned liftoff from Cape Canaveral, Florida.” The rocket’s engines “briefly ignited as the countdown neared zero, but a computer aborted the launch at T-minus 3 seconds, according to United Launch Alliance (ULA), which is conducting the launch.” The mission was supposed to “lift off at 3:28 a.m. EDT with a national security payload for the National Reconnaissance Office, according to a statement from ULA.” ULA CEO Tory Bruno said on Twitter, “The bird is in good shape. This was an automatic abort during the ignition sequence. Cause appears to have been in the ground system. System functioned as intended to protect the vehicle and payload.”
Full Story (CNN)