BY JUSTIN RAY

Follow the countdown and launch of the Boeing Delta 2 rocket with NASA's CONTOUR spacecraft. Reload this page for the very latest on the mission.

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2002

A tiny space probe was dispatched from Earth this morning for a tantalizing tour of comets -- the frozen time capsules that hold the primordial building blocks left over from the creation of our solar system. Read our full launch story.

1010 GMT (6:10 a.m. EDT)

Spacecraft controllers at the Applied Physics Laboratory of Johns Hopkins University report their CONTOUR probe is in good health after launching into Earth orbit this morning atop the Boeing Delta 2 rocket. APL built and will operate CONTOUR during its voyage to study comets. The craft was first acquired through the Deep Space Network tracking station at Goldstone, California, about 19 minutes after being released from the Delta's third stage.

"CONTOUR's launch was a spectacular start to an important project," said Dr. Stamatios M. Krimigis, head of the APL Space Department. "CONTOUR is next in the growing lineup of missions to explore small planetary bodies -- such as comets and asteroids -- and we expect it will add much to what little we know about these ancient samples of the solar system's original materials."

"It was a great launch," said Kristen Walsh, Boeing's director for NASA expendable launch vehicles. "The Delta 2 deployed CONTOUR right on the mark. Everything went according to plan. You just can't ask for more."

0800 GMT (4:00 a.m. EDT)

NASA reports the Delta launch vehicle appears to have performed properly, putting CONTOUR in a good orbit. Spacecraft officials will be taking some time analyzing the data from the Goldstone pass, so NASA expects the first news on the health of the probe will be released around 6 a.m. EDT. And with that, we will pause our coverage for now. We will have a wrap-up story later this morning.

0751 GMT (3:51 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 64 minutes. SPACECRAFT SEPARATION! NASA's CONTOUR comet observer spacecraft has been released from the Delta rocket's third stage following a successful launch this morning from Cape Canaveral. The satellite will be acquired by the Goldstone tracking station shortly to verify its health now in Earth orbit. CONTOUR will remain in a highly elliptical orbit stretching a third of the way to the moon until a kick motor firing on August 15 to embark on the voyage to comet Encke.

0749 GMT (3:49 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 61 minutes, 30 seconds. Third stage burnout confirmed, completed the powered phase of launch for CONTOUR. Separation is about two minutes away.

0748 GMT (3:48 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 60 minutes, 20 seconds. Third stage ignition has occurred.

0747 GMT (3:47 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 60 minutes. Stage separation has been confirmed for the solid-fueled Star 48B third stage to perform its 86-second burn.

0747 GMT (3:47 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 59 minutes, 40 seconds. T+plus 59 minutes. The orbit achieved following the second burn of the second stage shows an apogee of 166.7 nautical miles, perigee of 99.7 nautical miles. That's a good orbit, right near the predicts.

0746 GMT (3:46 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 58 minutes, 35 seconds. Second stage restart has occurred and been completed. The liquid-fueled Aerojet AJ10-118K engine fired for about four seconds, raising the orbital altitude as CONTOUR continues its ride on the Boeing Delta 2 rocket.

0745 GMT (3:45 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 57 minutes, 30 seconds. The rocket is currently over the northern coast of Australia as it approaches the restart of the second stage engine. Telemetry coverage is now being provided via the Air Force's deployable relay station at Darwin, Australia. Another deployable telemetry site in Weipa will pick up the rocket in a few minutes to cover the final stages of today's launch, including spacecraft separation.

0723 GMT (3:23 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 36 minutes. There is not much to pass along at this point. The rocket is out of contact with any of telemetry relay stations as the coast period continues.

0708 GMT (3:08 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 21 minutes. You can check out the ground track to see the path the Delta 2 and CONTOUR are taking today.

0702 GMT (3:02 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 15 minutes. The vehicle has passed out of range from the Antigua tracking station. The next live telemetry will come via tracking stations in Australia during the upcoming second and third stage burns and spacecraft separation. The rocket is coasting quietly until the second stage restarts at T+plus 58 minutes, 30 seconds.

0701 GMT (3:01 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 14 minutes. Boeing reports the second stage cutoff occurred a few moments early after the first stage was more energetic than expected. The orbit achieved has a high point of 106.5 nautical miles, low point of 99.8 nautical miles and inclination of 29.7 degrees to the equator. All parameters are right as planned.

0659 GMT (2:59 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 11 minutes, 40 seconds. SECO 1. Confirmation that the second stage engine has shut down as planned. The Delta 2 rocket with CONTOUR has arrived in a preliminary orbit around Earth.

0658 GMT (2:58 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 11 minutes, 20 seconds. Altitude 106 miles, speed 16,600 mph.

0658 GMT (2:58 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 11 minutes. Smooth flight for the Delta 2 rocket. Coming up on second stage engine cutoff in about 40 seconds or so.

0657 GMT (2:57 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 10 minutes. Second stage continues to thrust away, Boeing reports.

0656 GMT (2:56 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 9 minutes, 10 seconds. Altitude 105 miles, downrange distance 1130 miles, velocity 14,570 mph.

0655 GMT (2:55 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 7 minutes, 30 seconds. The Antigua tracking station has picked up the rocket's signal.

0654 GMT (2:54 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 7 minutes. Delta continues on course as the second stage fires. Just under five minutes remaining in this burn. Altitude 99 miles, downrange distance 710 miles, velocity 12,800 mph.

0653 GMT (2:53 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 6 minutes. Second stage engine continues to burn as planned. Good chamber pressure.

0652 GMT (2:52 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 5 minutes, 20 seconds. Downrange distance 396 miles, altitude 76 miles.

0652 GMT (2:52 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 5 minutes. The protective payload fairing enclosing the CONTOUR satellite atop the rocket has separated with no recontact detected.

0652 GMT (2:52 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 4 minutes, 40 seconds. Second stage engine ignition has been confirmed.

0652 GMT (2:52 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 4 minutes, 30 seconds. MECO. The first stage main engine cutoff confirmed, and the spent stage has been jettisoned.

0651 GMT (2:51 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 3 minutes, 40 seconds. Altitude 46 miles, downrange distance 176 miles, speed 8,300 miles per hour.

0651 GMT (2:51 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 3 minutes, 25 seconds. The official Range liftoff time was 2:47:41.366 a.m. EDT.

0650 GMT (2:50 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 2 minutes, 45 seconds. Altitude 33 miles, downrange distance 79 miles, speed 4,500 miles per hour.

0650 GMT (2:50 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 2 minutes, 30 seconds. The rocket continues its trek to orbit on the power of the first stage liquid-fueled main engine. The RS-27A powerplant and twin vernier steering thrusters continue to burn normally.

0649 GMT (2:49 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 1 minute, 50 seconds. Altitude 20 miles, downrange distance 37 miles, speed 2,800 miles per hour.

0649 GMT (2:49 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 1 minute, 5 seconds. All four ground-start solid rocket boosters have burned out and separated.

0648 GMT (2:48 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 50 seconds. Vehicle has passed maximum dynamic pressure.

0648 GMT (2:48 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 30 seconds. Solid rocket motors have passed the period of maximum thrust.

0648 GMT (2:48 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 20 seconds. Vehicle has rolled to the proper trajectory, heading east from Cape Canaveral.

0647 GMT (2:47 a.m. EDT)

LIFTOFF! Liftoff of NASA's CONTOUR spacecraft on a tour to observe the hearts of comets. And the Boeing Delta 2 rocket has cleared the tower!

0647 GMT (2:47 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 30 seconds. Hydraulics and electronics reported go.

The launch ignition sequence will begin at T-minus 2 seconds when a Boeing engineer triggers the engine start switch. The process begins with ignition of the two vernier engines and first stage main engine start. The four solid rocket motors then light at T-0 for liftoff.

0646 GMT (2:46 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 1 minute. The Range has given its final clear-to-launch. The Delta 2 rocket's second stage hydraulic pump has gone to internal power after its pressures were verified acceptable.

0646 GMT (2:46 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 90 seconds. Mission Director Rich Murphy has given is final approval to launch. At the telemetry receiving areas where data from the rocket will be transmitted the data recording charts have gone to high speed. And liquid oxygen topping to 100 percent is underway.

0645 GMT (2:45 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 2 minutes. NASA's CONTOUR spacecraft has been declared "go" for launch today. The craft is running on internal power.

The first stage liquid oxygen vents are now being closed so the LOX tank can be pressurized for launch. Puffs of vapor from a relief valve on the rocket will be seen in the remainder of the countdown as the tank pressure stabilizes.

0644 GMT (2:44 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 3 minutes and counting. The safety destruct safe and arm devices are being armed.

0643 GMT (2:43 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 4 minutes and counting. Now in the final phase of the countdown the Delta 2 rocket's systems begin transferring to internal power for launch.

Launch of NASA's CONTOUR probe remains set to occur at 2:47:41 a.m. EDT (0647:41 GMT) from pad 17A at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. No problems are standing in the way of the 292nd Delta rocket launch and first from the Cape in 11 months.

0642 GMT (2:42 a.m. EDT)

Now five minutes from launch! Standing by for release of the hold in one minute.

0640 GMT (2:40 a.m. EDT)

Now seven minutes away from launch. The trickle charge to the CONTOUR spacecraft atop the Delta rocket is stopping at this point and the satellite is switching to internal power for flight.

0639 GMT (2:39 a.m. EDT)

The launch team has been polled by the Boeing Launch Conductor for a "go" to proceed with the countdown. No problems were reported. The team is now receiving final instructions on countdown procedures.

0638 GMT (2:38 a.m. EDT)

NASA Launch Manager Chuck Dovale has polled his team and confirmed the space agency is ready to continue with the countdown for an on-time liftoff today.

0635 GMT (2:35 a.m. EDT)

Weather is now "green".

0633 GMT (2:33 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 4 minutes and holding. The countdown has entered the final planned hold point for today's launch attempt. During this planned 10-minute, 41-second hold, officials will poll the various team members behind the scenes, in the "soft blockhouse", Range Operations Control Center and Mission Directors Center. If all systems are go, the countdown will resume for liftoff at 2:47:41 a.m. EDT (0647:41 GMT).

0631 GMT (2:31 a.m. EDT)

Launch Weather Officer Joel Tumbiolo reports conditions remain no-go for launch but he expects that to change shortly.

0629 GMT (2:29 a.m. EDT)

The first stage fuel tank vent is being closed and the tank is being pressurized for launch. And the third stage and spacecraft safe and arm devices are being armed.

0624 GMT (2:24 a.m. EDT)

Inhibited checks are now underway for the Range Safety command destruct receivers that would be used in destroying the Delta rocket should the vehicle veer off course and malfunction during the launch. The range reports it is green following those checks.

0617 GMT (2:17 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 20 minutes and counting. The planned hold in the countdown has been released. Clocks will now tick down to T-minus 4 minutes when the final hold is planned.

0615 GMT (2:15 a.m. EDT)

The launch team has been polled by the Boeing Launch Conductor for a "go" to proceed with the countdown. Boeing Mission Director Rich Murphy and NASA Launch Manager Chuck Dovale had already polled their respective teams. No technical problems were reported with the rocket, spacecraft or pad systems.

0610 GMT (2:10 a.m. EDT)

NASA Launch Manager Chuck Dovale reports there are no technical problems with the launch vehicle or spacecraft and the NASA team is go for launch. Weather remains the only issue. The rain shower near the launch pad appears to be finally dying out, according to observers at the press site. Boeing Mission Director Rich Murphy is now polling his team.

0607 GMT (2:07 a.m. EDT)

Now half-way through this built-in hold here at T-minus 20 minutes. The very quiet countdown remains on schedule for launch at 2:47:41 a.m. EDT (0647:41 GMT) today from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

0600 GMT (2:00 a.m. EDT)

Launch Weather Officer Joel Tumbiolo reports the single shower close to the launch pad is continuing to dissapate. He expects the cumulus cloud rule to go "green" soon, but there may be a brief violation of the debris cloud rule before the shower dies out, clearing the way for launch. It is still raining at the press site to the west of the launch pad.

0557 GMT (1:57 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 20 minutes and holding. The countdown has entered a planned 20-minute built-in hold. This pause is designed to give the launch team a chance to work any problems or catch up on activities that might be running behind schedule. A weather briefing for the launch team is coming up shortly. Weather remains red due to cumulus cloud in the area.

0554 GMT (1:54 a.m. EDT)

Gimbal checks of the nozzles on the Delta 2 first and stage engines have been successfully completed.

0547 GMT (1:47 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 30 minutes and counting. The countdown rolls on at Cape Canaveral with one hour from the planned launch time. There is a 20-minute planned built-in hold upcoming at T-minus 20 minutes, then a 10-minute, 41-second hold at T-minus 4 minutes.

The launch team will soon begin the "slew" or steering checks of the first and second stage engines. These tests are gimbal checks of the nozzles on the first stage main engine and twin vernier engines and second stage engine to ensure the engines will be able to steer the rocket during launch.

And in the next few minutes RF link tests between the Range and rocket are scheduled.

0537 GMT (1:37 a.m. EDT)

The Delta rocket is fully fueled for its scheduled liftoff 70 minutes from now. The vehicle's first stage was loaded with RP-1 kerosene fuel last evening and liquid oxygen over the past hour. The second stage was loaded with its storable nitrogen tetroxide and Aerozine 50 fuels on Sunday and Monday; and the third stage and strap-on booster rockets are solid-propellant.

The countdown currently stands at T-minus 40 minutes. There is a 20-minute hold upcoming at T-minus 20 minutes, then a 10-minute, 41-second hold at T-minus 4 minutes.

There are no technical problems being worked. A rain shower near the launch pad is dissapating as expected. A moderate rain is falling at the press site located about a mile from the launch pad. Weather remains no-go for the cumulus cloud rule, but lightning activity is no longer a problem.

0524 GMT (1:24 a.m. EDT)

Weather conditions at the Cape remain red, but the rain shower responsible for the current launch weather violations is expected to dissapate soon. At launch time forecasters are predicting generally westerly winds at 5-10 knots, a temperature of 72 degrees F, and a relative humidity of 97 percent. The chance of an isolated shower or thunderstorm in the vicinity of the launch pad is the primary factor in the forecast for a 30 percent chance of a launch weather violation.

0510 GMT (1:10 a.m. EDT)

The Delta 2 guidance system has been activated. Now eight minutes into liquid oxygen loading.

0506 GMT (1:06 a.m. EDT)

Current weather conditions at the Cape are no-go for launch due to a thunderstorm in the area. However, launch commentator George Diller says U.S. Air Force meteorologists are optimistic that conditions will improve in time for the planned 2:47:41 a.m. EDT (0647:41 GMT) liftoff.

0502 GMT (1:02 a.m. EDT)

Super-cold liquid oxygen, chilled to Minus-298 degrees F, is being pumped into the first stage of the Boeing Delta 2 rocket as the countdown continues for this morning's launch attempt. The liquid oxygen is flowing from a storage tank at pad 17A, through plumbing and into the bottom of the rocket. The LOX and the RP-1 kerosene fuel loaded aboard the vehicle last evening will be guzzled by the first stage main engine during the initial four-and-a-half minutes of flight.

0436 GMT (12:36 a.m. EDT)

NASA spokesman George Diller reports that all is on schedule for the launch of the CONTOUR spacecraft aboard a Boeing Delta 2 rocket at 2:47:41 a.m. EDT (0647:41 GMT) this morning. There continues to be a 30 percent chance that bad weather will delay the launch. Heavy rain has been falling in the Cape Canaveral area as the final countdown gets underway.

0347 GMT (11:47 p.m. EDT Tues.)

T-minus 150 minutes. The Terminal Countdown begins at this time for the launch of the Boeing Delta 2 rocket and NASA's CONTOUR spacecraft. Over the next three hours, the launch team will prep the rocket, payload and ground support systems for the planned 2:47:41 a.m. EDT (0647:41 GMT) liftoff from pad 17A at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

With the countdown underway, the Complex 17 area will be verified cleared of workers as a safety precaution. A warning horn will be sounded at the seaside complex to alert personnel to depart and head back to road blocks.

Upcoming in the next few minutes, launch team members in the Delta Operations Building, or "soft blockhouse", located about eight miles west of the pad will oversee the pressurization of helium and nitrogen storage tanks inside the rocket's first and second stages, along with the second stage fuel and oxidizer tanks. In addition, the Delta's onboard guidance computer -- called the Redundant Inertial Flight Control Assembly or RIFCA -- will be turned on and configured for the mission.

0120 GMT (9:20 p.m. EDT Tues.)
The mobile service tower enclosing the Boeing Delta 2 rocket at Cape Canaveral's pad 17A is currently being retracted for launch. Liftoff remains scheduled for 2:47:41 a.m. EDT.

The metal cocoon-like structure is used to assemble the Delta 2 on the seaside pad, as well as providing workers access to all reaches on the vehicle and weather protection for the rocket. Rollback of the tower is a major milestone on the road to prepare for launch.

Workers will now get the tower secured into its launch position and configure the pad for liftoff. The Terminal Countdown remains scheduled to begin at 11:47 p.m. EDT.

TUESDAY, JULY 2, 2002
2000 GMT (4 p.m. EDT)
Countdown preparations are beginning at Cape Canaveral's launch pad 17A for liftoff of the Boeing Delta 2 rocket and NASA's CONTOUR comet observer before dawn Wednesday morning.

Nestled inside the rocket's 9.5-foot diameter nose cone, CONTOUR was scheduled to be powered up for launch at about 3 p.m., kicking off an approximate 12-hour campaign to ready the spacecraft for flight. Running on a computerized script, CONTOUR will be configured into its launch mode, leading up to transfer from ground-fed power to its onboard battery seven minutes before liftoff.

On the launch vehicle side, workers this morning installed the ordnance on the rocket and electrically connected the solid rocket motors. Some of the access platforms on the pad's tower were retracted in advance of tonight's mobile service structure removal.

Plans call for the rocket's first stage to be loaded with RP-1 fuel, a highly refined kerosene, at 6:30 p.m. EDT. Officials elected to fuel the rocket before retraction of the mobile tower as a measure to weight down the relatively light rocket that has only four strap-on solid rocket motors vs. the usual nine. The extra weight of the nearly 10,000 gallons of fuel will give the vehicle more stability once it is exposed on the launch pad. Normally, the first stage is fueled about two-and-a-half hours before liftoff during Terminal Count.

Once the RP-1 is aboard, pad crews will make final preparations to move the mobile service tower into the launch position around 7:45 p.m. The operation could be delayed until around 10 p.m. without impacting the countdown if weather becomes a problem this evening. Forecasters are always worried about thunderstorms this time of the year in Florida.

The Terminal Count is scheduled to start at 11:47 p.m. at the T-minus 150 minute mark. Two built-in holds are planned during the count. The first will occur at T-minus 20 minutes for a duration of 20 minutes; the second happens at T-minus 4 minutes and should last 10 minutes, 41 seconds to synch up with the opening of the launch window at 2:47:41 a.m. EDT.

Meteorologists are still calling for a 70 percent chance of acceptable launch weather for the available six-second launch window. Lingering thunderstorm clouds and rain are the main threats to preventing liftoff.

TUESDAY, JULY 2, 2002
NASA's CONTOUR space probe is ready to depart Earth early Wednesday for the first leg of its voyage to observe the hearts of comets -- the frozen remnants from the birth of our solar system.

Liftoff aboard a Boeing Delta 2 rocket is targeted to occur at exactly 2:47:41 a.m. EDT (0647:41 GMT) from pad 17A at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

The three-stage rocket will need just over an hour to loft the 2,138-pound satellite into a highly elliptical orbit of 115 by 68,186 miles, stretching about a third of the way to the moon.

CONTOUR will remain in Earth orbit until August 15 when a solid-fueled kick motor on the spacecraft ignites for a 50-second firing to propel the probe on a Sun-orbiting, Earth-return trajectory, the next leg of its innovative trek called an "indirect launch mode."

CONTOUR will return to the Earth on August 15, 2003, passing within 36,000 miles to use the planet's gravity as a steering wheel to change the craft's orbit to put it on course to rendezvous with comet Encke on November 12, 2003. After several more Earth swingbys, CONTOUR will head to comet Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 on June 19, 2006.

CONTOUR, short for the Comet Nucleus Tour, is a $159 million mission that will snap the clearest pictures ever taken of the dirty snowballs' ice and rock heart, called the nucleus. If is survives the first two comet encounters and NASA elects to provide more funding, the probe could be sent to rendezvous with several more comets in an effort to better understand how the objects chemically differ from one another.

"Understanding comets is important because they are indeed the best preserved pieces of the solid material that went into formation of the planets formed 4.6 billion years ago," said Dr. Joseph Veverka, the CONTOUR principal investigator from Cornell University.

"Comets are exotic objects coming to us from the farthest reaches of our solar system. Every time you look up into the sky and see a comet, it actually was formed in the region now dominated by Jupiter and the other giant gaseous planets," said Dr. Colleen Hartman, director of NASA's solar system exploration division.

Dr. Donald Yeomans, the CONTOUR science team co-investigator, described what the spacecraft aims to do:

"The instruments onboard the CONTOUR spacecraft will determine the chemical composition, for example -- what is the deuterium-to-hydrogen ratio in the atmosphere of the comet and is that ratio the same as the ratio of the Earth's oceans? If it is, comets are likely the source of much of the Earth's oceans," said Yeomans.

"The Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer is going to measure a number of noble-gas ratios -- for example, the ratio of xenon to krypton. Is that the same in the comet's atmosphere as it is in the Earth's atmosphere? If so, that would indicate that much of our atmosphere may well have come from comets.

"The Comet Impact Dust Analyzer will analyze the carbon-based molecules coming from the comet and may be able to compare those, identify the molecules with those that have been laid down on the Earth's surface and from which life formed."

Yeomans also said comets could be key to future manned expeditions beyond our home planet.

"They may well represent the resources that will allow us to colonize the inner solar system, should that take place -- I think it will take place. If we do that, we're going to need raw materials in space to build structures; we're going to need water to sustain life. And, of course, comets are largely 50 percent water by mass, as a rule. And you could break the water down into hydrogen and oxygen, which is the most efficient form of rocket fuel. So, in some sense, comets may one day be the fueling stations and watering holes for the inner planetary colonization process."

Watch this page for live countdown and launch updates beginning Tuesday evening as workers make final preparations to send CONTOUR on its way!

MONDAY, JULY 1, 2002
Mission managers completed the final launch readiness review today, clearing the way for the start of the countdown Tuesday and liftoff early Wednesday. There are no problems being worked and the weather is still predicted to be generally favorable with a 70 percent chance of acceptable conditions.

Ed Reynolds, the CONTOUR deputy project manager, told reporters today that the spacecraft was ready to go after its last-minute cleaning. The discovery of the dust on the probe's top solar array panel prompted a two-day launch delay.

Workers were able to reach through access holes on the rocket's nose cone to remove the fine layer of dust on CONTOUR. Follow up tests have concluded the probe is clean.

The source of the dust is still under investigation. The spacecraft was verified clean Thursday morning before the rocket's nose cone was installed and then found to be dusty that night after the fairing was in place. But officials say the inside of the fairing was not the source of the material.

Loading of the second stage with storable propellants was completed this morning. The work began Sunday but wasn't able to be finished until today because of bad weather.

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2002
NASA said today that launch preparations are now on schedule for liftoff of the Delta 2 rocket with CONTOUR early Wednesday morning. The loading of storable propellant into the rocket's second stage is underway today at launch pad 17A.

The launch was delayed two days to investigate a fine layer of dust discovered on the top solar array of CONTOUR. Officials say the situation has been cleaned up, allowing the launch to go forward.

Launch Weather Officer Joel Tumbiolo said today there is a 70 percent chance of good conditions for Wednesday's 2:47:41 a.m. EDT liftoff opportunity.

"Several factors will affect local weather conditions over next few days. Combination of abundant moisture, afternoon heating, sea breeze development, and a weak surface and upper level trough over central Florida will result in widespread afternoon and evening thunderstorms. In addition to remnant cloud cover, showers and isolated thunderstorms may linger into the overnight hours due to surface and upper level trough. Weak west to east steering winds will result in all shower and thunderstorm activity moving towards the eastern half of the Florida peninsula. Main concern initially will be local conditions at the time of MST Rollback. Afterwards, launch window concerns will be remnant cloud cover and any lingering showers and thunderstorms still in the vicinity."

The launch time forecast calls for scattered clouds at 3,000 and broken at 12,000 and 25,000 feet, visibility of 7 miles, westerly winds from 260 at 8 gusting to 12 knots, a temperature of 71 to 73 degrees F and relative humidity of 97 percent. The primary concerns against launching are the anvil and thick cloud rules and flight through precipitation.

Similar conditions are predicted for Thursday and Friday, both with a 70 percent chance of launching either day.

FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2002
1715 GMT (1:15 p.m. EDT)
NASA's CONTOUR comet probe will remain Earth-bound for at least two extra days while technicians analyze particles found on the spacecraft and officials decide whether cleaning will be required.

Liftoff from Complex 17 at Cape Canaveral has been slated for early Monday aboard a Boeing Delta 2 rocket. Since CONTOUR would have to perform a fuel-costly maneuver if launched Tuesday, officials opted to slip liftoff to no sooner than Wednesday at 2:47:41 a.m. EDT.

Workers noted dust-like contamination on the spacecraft's top solar array panel as the rocket's nose cone was being installed around CONTOUR on Thursday, NASA said.

The material is being analyzed to determine what the particulate is made of. Results could be known as early as tonight. Mission managers must then determine if the spacecraft will have to be cleaned or if CONTOUR could fly "as-is."

The rocket's nose cone likely would have to be removed if cleaning is ordered, delaying the launch at least another day or two, a NASA spokesman said.

CONTOUR's launch period extends through July 25.

1500 GMT (11:00 a.m. EDT)
DELAY! The launch of NASA's Comet Nucleus Tour (CONTOUR) spacecraft aboard a Boeing Delta 2 rocket has been postponed to no earlier than Wednesday, July 3.

During installation of the launch vehicle fairing around the spacecraft on Thursday, possible particulate contamination was observed on the top solar array panel, NASA said.

"As a precautionary measure, this particulate is being analyzed to determine its composition and what further action, if any, is necessary," the space agency said in a statement.

Wednesday's six-second launch window opens at 2:47:41 a.m. EDT.

We will post any additional details as soon as we have them.

THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2002

A small space probe designed to get up close and personal with at least two comets will be blasted into space Monday. NASA's CONTOUR spacecraft remains scheduled for liftoff at 2:56:14 a.m. EDT (0656:14 GMT) aboard a Boeing Delta 2 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

"Comets are the solar system's smallest bodies, but among its biggest mysteries," said Dr. Joseph Veverka, CONTOUR's principal investigator from Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. "We believe they hold the most primitive materials in the solar system and that they played a role in shaping some of the planets, but we really have more ideas about comets than facts. CONTOUR will change that by coming closer to a comet nucleus than any spacecraft ever has before and gathering detailed, comparative data on these dynamic objects."

Air Force weather forecasters say there is an 80 percent chance of good conditions for Monday's six-second launch window. The possible concerns are violating the anvil and cumulus cloud rules and flight through precipitation.

"Abundant moisture, afternoon heating and sea breeze development will continue to lead to a good chance for afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Weak steering winds toward the eastern side of the Florida peninsula will again lead to thunderstorms in the local area. This basic scenario will hold into the weekend. Weak stationary front will be located well to the north of Florida on launch day. Thunderstorms along this front could cause an anvil cloud to approach the area from the north-northeast. Only other concern will be for early morning showers that could develop just offshore, or along the immediate coast," Launch Weather Officer Joel Tumbiolo reported today.

The launch time conditions are expected to include scattered clouds at 3,000 and 25,000 feet, visibility of 7 miles, southeasterly winds from 160 degrees at 8 gusting to 12 knots and a temperature of 74 to 76 degrees F.

Workers at launch pad 17A were slowed down this week while trying to install the rocket's nose cone around CONTOUR, but the trouble isn't expected to delay liftoff.

"The payload fairing installation operation began on (Tuesday) and was halted when an interference was encountered between the acoustic support structure of the fairing and the de-spin weight attached to the third stage. The root cause of the anomaly was determined to be a design flaw. The resolution of this problem is to install a shorter replacement strut on the acoustic shelf in order to gain the proper clearance. This issue has not had an impact on the July 1 launch date," NASA said in a statement.

We'll have a detailed mission preview this weekend. And watch this page for complete live launch coverage.