The launch of a US Air Force Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) 3 spacecraft aboard an $80 million Atlas IIA from Cape Canaveral has been delayed until at least 19 October. A potential fault has been discovered in the initiation timer switch which will command the $200 million satellite to switch to in-orbit mode after separation from the final booster stage.
• The NASA High Energy Transient Explorer 2 (HETE) satellite was launched by an Orbital Sciences Pegasus booster over the Pacific Ocean on 9 October. It will be used to study gamma rays.
• Arianespace Flight 133 of an Ariane 42L booster carrying the Japanese N-SAT-100 communications satellite into geostationary transfer orbit was launched on 6 October.
Source: Flight International
