The little Wallops rocket that couldn't
Andrew Sharp
In a tone that would turn out to be overly confident, in late May this paper reported an upcoming rocket launch from the Wallops Flight Facility.
On May 31, NASA would launch a “Terrier-Improved Malemute” sounding rocket (named by drawing words out of a hat and jamming them together). The rocket would create beautiful colored clouds for a scientific experiment on how to make clouds less boring.
“Here comes another visual treat from NASA for Delmarva residents, but they will have to get up early to enjoy it,” the article proclaimed, noting the launch would take place before 5 a.m.
Those who did set their alarms would end up being a few weeks early. They were also, though they didn’t know it at the time, about to hear the word “scrub” used the most times since Ernie serenaded his rubber ducky.
BACKGROUND:NASA will try for a 10th time to launch cloud-making rocket
For those who have lost track, here’s a breakdown of what happened next:
May 30: NASA officials, with endearing optimism, decide to reschedule the May 31 launch in hopes of better weather.
June 1: It’s too windy to launch, NASA officials decide, fearing interference from people flying kites off the coast.
June 2: There are too many clouds for NASA to make more clouds.
June 3: “They say the third time is the charm,” the NASA Wallops Facebook page says hopefully early that morning. It might have indeed been the charm, except the only person on the East Coast who is unaware there was a launch going on wanders into the launch area in a boat. NASA officials will later wish they had aimed the rocket directly at the boat.
June 4: The Wallops Facebook page posting person, deeply bitter about being dragged out of bed every morning before 4 a.m., nonetheless tries to strike a cheerful note, wishing everyone a good morning. Everyone hates him.
The launch is scrubbed after an irritable NASA employee hurls coffee at another employee, ruining sensitive electronics, and the Facebook person explains to everyone that there were too many clouds.
NASA, facing a staff rebellion, schedules the next launch for June 11 -- in the evening.
June 11: A few local fishermen head out to take advantage of the fantastic weather, and head to the launch area, where the fishing is excellent. The launch is canceled. The fishermen are forced to flee for their lives as local residents on powerboats pursue them with torches.
NASA books a submarine armed with torpedoes for the next launch.
June 12: “We know you've been patiently waiting,” NASA’s Facebook poster posts. This does not accurately reflect the mindset of local rocket fans.
The launch is canceled because of high mosquito density.
June 13: First thing in the morning, NASA schedules a Facebook post to go up at exactly 9:16 p.m. announcing that the launch has been canceled because of clouds. All staff take the day off.
June 14: The launch is delayed until June 16 because of clashes with angry crowds outside the launch facility, and also bad weather.
June 15: The launch is delayed again, until June 17, because Wallops officials had forgotten there was a company softball game on the 16th.
June 16: Wallops decides to hold off until Father’s Day, June 18, to make it more special.
June 18: The launch pad supervisor remembers he’s promised to visit his family in Des Moines on Father’s Day, and has to leave early in the morning. The launch is scrubbed, NASA announces, because of “high winds.”
June 19: In what many feel is a display of divine wrath toward NASA, severe thunderstorms force postponement of the launch.
June 20: Engineers discover the rocket fuel has a dead gnat in it, which could imperil the launch. The launch is scrubbed.
June 23: The launch is postponed because of weather concerns. The launch window is amended to run through June 26, 2035.
Email Andrew Sharp at asharp@delmarvanow.com. Find him on Twitter @buckeye_201 and on Facebook @andrewsharp201.
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