Air Force delays military satellite launch
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) -- The U.S. Air Force Sunday failed to launch an $800 million Milstar military-communications satellite and will try again Tuesday.
The delay should have no immediate impact on fighting in Iraq because the Milstar 6, or Military Strategic and Tactical Relay, satellite would face about 60 days of tests and calibrations in orbit before it can begin service.
U.S. officials said lift-off at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida was delayed six times during a four-hour launch window by various technical matters and private air craft wandering too close to the launch pad.
The final halt was called with fewer than two minutes remaining on the countdown clock. A new four-hour launch window will open Tuesday at 9:43 a.m. EDT.
The Milstar 6 is the last in a series and is designed to provide secure communications between military command in the United States and troops, ships, submarines and aircraft deployed around the world. It will join five other Milstars in stationary orbits around the planet.
Both the satellite and its Titan 4 rocket were built by Lockheed Martin Corp under an Air Force contract.
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