Dec 19 1979
From The Space Library
Continuing flight tests of the orbiter Columbia were halted December 18 after two technical failures. Simulated liftoff occurred at 4:30 p.m. EDT with backup crew members Joe H. Engle and Richard Truly in the cockpit, but two minutes later they failed to receive signals of the simulated separation of the solid-fuel rocket boosters; 8 minutes 50 seconds into the flight, they failed to receive a signal showing successful separation of the external tank. (W Star, Dec 19/79, A-4)
ESA announced that a halt in Ariane's launch sequence December 15 resulted from a faulty sensing of operating pressure in one of the four engines that inhibited the release command. The engines functioned normally, and liftoff would have proceeded normally except for the erroneous reading. After detailed checks of the launcher and launch pad, subject to satisfactory reports, ESA said the launch countdown would resume December 22 for launch December 23. (ESA Info Bltn 39)
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