NASA DELAYS SWIFT LAUNCH

Don Savage
Headquarters, Washington
(Phone: 202/358-1727)

Bruce Buckingham
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
(Phone: 321/867-2468)

Nov. 17, 2004

MEDIA ADVISORY: M04-187

Launch of NASA's Swift spacecraft has been delayed at least 24 hours due to a concern with Range Command-Receiver Decoder equipment on the launch vehicle.

The concern arose over night after the "Safe and Arm" devices were connected on the launch vehicle. The decision to postpone the launch, aboard a Boeing Delta II rocket, occurred as engineers were making final checks prior to launch tower roll back at complex 17 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, in Fla.

The launch management team will meet later today to confirm a new date based on the today's engineering assessments. Launch is expected no earlier than Thursday at 12:09 p.m. EST.

For information about Swift, NASA and agency programs on the Web, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Goddard Space Flight Center

NASA DELAYS SWIFT LAUNCH