NASA delays Dawn asteroid probe launch until September

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2007

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The US space agency has postponed until September the launch of space probe Dawn on its eight-year mission to unlock the mysteries of the origins of our solar system.

It was the second delay for the mission in as many days.

"Primary reasons for the move were a combination of highly limited launch opportunities for Dawn in July and the potential impact to launch preparations for the upcoming Phoenix Mars Lander mission, set for early August," the National Aeronautics and Space Administration said in a statement Saturday.

"A September launch for Dawn maintains all of the science mission goals a July launch would have provided," NASA further assured.

Dawn's launch was originally scheduled for Saturday, but because of weather was first...