It has weathered hurricanes Frances and Jeanne on Cape Canaveral's launch pad 17B and now a Boeing Delta 2 rocket is awaiting a new date to boost the Air Force's next Global Positioning System satellite in space.

A Delta 2 rocket similar to the one pictured here will carry the GPS satellite into orbit. Photo: NASA-KSC

The three-stage rocket was supposed to fly September 22. But that date was cancelled due to work stoppage and extra testing in the wake of Hurricane Frances that blew through Florida over Labor Day weekend.

Engineers had checked out the Delta and its strap-on solid rocket boosters, which are exposed on the pad, and found no worries. Liftoff was reset for October 8.

But then came Hurricane Jeanne on September 26, forcing officials to secure the rocket in its protective gantry and shut down Cape Canaveral Air Force Station for the second time in less than a month.

Post-Jeanne tests have indicated the hurricane caused no harm to the rocket or launch pad.

"Concerns focused primarily on potential water intrusion and flying debris damage. The Delta 2 vehicle, once again, has had an extensive inspection by Air Force and Boeing launch site personnel and Boeing design engineering personnel," said Lt. Col. Gregory J. Schiller, the Delta 2 launch program manager at the Air Force's Space and Missile Systems Center.

"Inspection results revealed no damage of any significance. Only notables included scuff marks on two solid rocket motors and minor paint abrasion on the first stage.

"Overall, the vehicle and facilities survived Hurricane Jeanne even better than Hurricane Frances."

Engineers have performed a so-called "mechanical impedance analysis" to check the solid motors' integrity, especially the two boosters with scuff marks. Nine white graphite epoxy motors are mounted around the rocket's first stage to provide additional thrust during the initial minutes of ascent.

A new date has not been selected for the Delta 2 rocket launch. Photo: NASA-KSC

"The analysis involves ultrasound sensing of the identified areas to ensure there are no unacceptable indentations to the composite overwrap casing material on the (solid rocket motor). Significant impact indentations could lead to a weakening of the composite material and potential failure of the SRM," Schiller said.

"This testing was completed with satisfactory results immediately following Hurricane Frances and likewise has already been completed with satisfactory results on two SRMs as a result of Hurricane Jeanne."

In addition to the booster checks, the launch team must re-do some work already performed before the GPS deployment flight can proceed to liftoff, including the key Simulated Flight event that tests the vehicle's electrical and mechanical systems.

"Since several umbilicals to the first and second stages were disconnected for safekeeping prior to Hurricane Jeanne, they will be reconnected and functional tests will be re-performed," Schiller explained. "Similarly, a Simulated Flight test sequence was accomplished just prior to Hurricane Jeanne and will also be re-performed.

"Processing will proceed nominally from that point forward."

The GPS satellite remains in its processing hangar. It was mated to the Delta rocket's third stage before Jeanne -- on September 21 -- as part of the normal pre-launch campaign. The satellite and attached rocket stage will be transported to pad 17B and hoisted atop the Delta 2 more than a week before launch.

Exactly when the launch will happen remains uncertain.

"We are not sure yet and have not yet confirmed a launch date with the Range," Schiller said.

Once deployed in orbit, the GPS spacecraft will replace an aging satellite in the U.S. military's navigation network.

Additional coverage for subscribers:
VIDEO: DELTA 2 ROCKET BLASTS OFF WITH GPS 2R-12 QT
VIDEO: LIFTOFF AS SEEN FROM PRESS SITE QT
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