Commercial Space Launch Incident, Launch Procedure Anomaly Orbital Sciences Corporation, Pegasus/SCD-1, 80 Nautical Miles East of Cape Canaveral, Florida, February 9, 1993

On February 9, 1993, about 0930 eastern standard time, the launch sequence of an Orbital Sciences Corporation Pegasus expendable launch vehicle was aborted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration range safety officer, in accordance with a previously established launch constraint. Several seconds later, the launch sequence was reinitiated by the Orbital Sciences Corporation test conductor, and the missile separated uneventfully from its carrier aircraft. The ignition and staging of the Pegasus and its subsequent deployment of two satellites into low earth orbit were also uneventful. There were no injuries to personnel involved in the mission and no damage to mission assets.

The launch was conducted under license number LLS-92-028, issued on December 23, 1992, by the Office of Commercial Space Transportation, Department of Transportation. The anomaly was investigated by the Safety Board, following and invitation by the Department of Transportation, in accordance with a Memorandum of Agreement dated June 5, 1989.

The safety issues raised in this report include command, control, and communications responsibility, launch crew fatigue, launch interphone procedures, efficiency of launch constraints, and the lack of common launch documents.