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To: NonValueAdded
UPDATE: Countdown activities have been put on hold during the past 20 minutes thanks to several technical problems at launch pad 36B. The trouble appears to involve several valves related to the Atlas rocket's pneumatic system, which is not holding proper pressure.

Fueling operations have stopped while a team of workers is preparing to enter the launch pad area to troubleshoot the problem.

With a two-hour launch window there appears to be plenty of time to work through this issue and resume countdown operations toward launch, but we'll know more shortly.

11 posted on 12/15/2003 5:32:26 PM PST by NonValueAdded ("Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists." GWB 9/20/01)
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To: NonValueAdded
8:38 p.m. EST, Monday, Dec. 15, 2003

There's a problem with ground helium bottle - the tank at the pad that supplies helium to the rocket. It is having trouble maintaining pressure. A team is investigating.

12 posted on 12/15/2003 5:38:39 PM PST by NonValueAdded ("Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists." GWB 9/20/01)
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