Contact:

Gretchen Cook-Anderson
Headquarters, Washington
(Phone: 202/358-0836 or at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.: 805/605-3051)

Bruce Buckingham
Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
(Phone: 805/605-3051)

July 13, 2004 - NOTE TO EDITORS: N04-104

AURA LAUNCH POSTPONED

The launch of NASA's Aura spacecraft atop a Boeing Delta II rocket from California has been delayed for at least 24 hours. Launch will occur no earlier than Wednesday, July 14, with a three-minute window at 6:01:59 a.m. EDT (3:01:59 a.m. PDT).

During the final T-20 minute hold before the scheduled launch this morning, spacecraft engineers decided they could not resolve an outstanding issue with a solid-state recorder. The mission management team will convene this afternoon at 6 p.m. EDT to confirm the new launch date of July 14.

On launch day programming on NASA Television will begin at 4 a.m. EDT (1 a.m. PDT) for the start of fueling of the Delta II. The launch commentary will begin at 4:30 a.m. EDT (1:30 a.m. PDT).

Media covering the launch should meet at the main gate of Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., at 2 a.m. PDT Wednesday, July 14, for escort to the Delta press site on north Vandenberg. Media needing accreditation for the launch should call Air Force Lt. Michelle Mayo at 805/606-3595 of the 30th Space Wing Public Affairs Office.

An Aura recorded launch status for the news media is available by dialing 805/734-2693.