An audible groan was heard Thursday morning at NASA Ames Visitor Center in Moffett Field when the Orion spacecraft launched was scrubbed, pushed to Friday when weather conditions are expected to be better.
Crowds had woken up early to watch NASA's new spacecraft take off from Cape Canaveral in Florida.
But the launch was scrapped because of wind gusts and stick fuel valves. At Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the scene was similar, only bigger. An estimated 27,000 guests gathered for the historic send-off — roads leading into Kennedy Space Center were packed well before dawn — and the atmosphere was reminiscent of the shuttle-flying days. "Go Orion!!" urged a hotel billboard in nearby Cocoa Beach.
Orion is aiming for two orbits on this inaugural run. On the second lap around the home planet, the spacecraft should reach a peak altitude of 3,600 miles, high enough to ensure a re-entry speed of 20,000 mph and an environment of 4,000 degrees. Splashdown will be in the Pacific off the Mexican Baja coast, where Navy ships already are waiting.
After almost two hours of waiting and several push backs, one NASA employee addressed the crowd in Mountain View: "Now you know what it's like to work for NASA."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
