ESA Cluster II Launch Delayed Until Sunday, 16 July

The Launch of Cluster II from the Baikonur Cosmodrome has been delayed until tomorrow. According to ESA’s Cluster II launch page updated at 15 July: 14:45: The launch has been aborted by the Launch Authorities. They are now investigating and we await their report”, says Alberto Gianolio from Baikonur. The next launch window is 12:39:34 UTC (14:39:34 CEST).” An earlier concern with the massive solar flare heading towards Earth also posed a possible (albeit much smaller) threat to the launch. However, according to ESA, “after analysing the potential threat to the Cluster spacecraft, the project team agreed that the risk was probably minimal and would not adversely affect the mission.”