ESA postpones GOCE satellite launch

MIRNY, Russia, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- The European Space Agency says it aborted launch activities last weekend for its GOCE satellite because of a technical malfunction.

ESA officials said an anomaly was identified Sunday in one of the guidance and navigation subsystems of the launcher's upper stage.

The 16-foot-long satellite -- called GOCE for Gravity field and steady state Ocean Circulation Explorer -- was to be launched Wednesday from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia and placed into orbit about 175 miles above the Earth. The satellite is designed to map Earth's gravity field in unprecedented detail.

The ESA said the malfunctioning unit will have to be replaced, making it necessary to "de-mate" the launcher's upper stage and transport it from the launch pad to the integration room. Once in the clean room, the protective fairing that shelters the satellite will be opened and the spacecraft and its adapter system will be dismounted in order to allow access to the malfunctioning equipment.

Taking into account the duration of the refurbishment and re-mating operations, the ESA rescheduled the launch for Oct. 5.

Officials said the satellite and its mission won't be affected by the delay.