[Mb-civic] CBC News - U.S. SAYS NFLD. ROCKET LAUNCH DELAYED FOR TECHNICAL REASONS

Fri Apr 8 10:16:43 PDT 2005

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U.S. SAYS NFLD. ROCKET LAUNCH DELAYED FOR TECHNICAL REASONS
WebPosted Fri Apr  8 10:00:50 2005

St. John's, nfld.---A U.S. rocket launch that could have showered debris
over the Grand Banks and caused the evacuation of offshore oil platforms
has been delayed because of technical problems, the U.S. air force says.

But Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams says that
explanation doesn't match what he was told late Thursday.

The scheduled Monday launch of the Titan IV rocket from Cape Canaveral,
Fla., prompted a diplomatic flurry on Thursday, with federal and
provincial officials calling for a delay.

Debris from the rocket was poised to fall within 27 kilometres of the
Hibernia platform, prompting an evacuation order for workers on the
Hibernia and Terra Nova platforms.

The launch was to be directed by the Pentagon's National Reconnaissance
Office. The rocket was to be used to launch a satellite.

Maj. Adriane Craig, a public affairs officer with the 45th Space Wing of
the U.S. air force, says the mission was delayed because of a fuel-
loading problem.

"Some ground support equipment needs to be adjusted so they can continue
with the oxidizer load, and once they get that problem solved, then that
vehicle will be ready for flight," Craig said.

But the Newfoundland premier said he had been told the U.S. government
ordered an indefinite hold on the flight after Canada objected to the
possibility of debris hitting a platform.

"My biggest concern is that there are mixed signals coming from
everywhere," Williams said Friday morning.

Williams said he will be contacting Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan
as well as Frank McKenna, Canada's ambassador to the U.S.

"I won't accept anything less than a solid assurance that there is no
problem here," Williams said.

Craig would not comment on whether political pressure played a decision
in the delay.

"I can only speak for the vehicle itself," she said, adding that
negotiations would be handled by the U.S. State Department.

"But I can tell you right now, we're in an operational delay."