Artist’s concept of the ST5 spacecraft. Image Credit: NASA

NASA’s Space Technology 5 spacecraft (ST5) launch was aborted today. A locking pin in the Orbital Science’s Pegasus XL rocket’s flight control service mechanism did not retract just prior to launch. Orbital Sciences and NASA engineers will diagnose and correct the problem.

A new launch date will be established pending resolution of the issue, the availability of the Western Range, and acceptable weather conditions at the Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. launch site. The delay will be at least 48 hours.

Spaceflight Now lists March 21st as a potential launch date, but that has yet to be confirmed. Today’s result was the fifth launch delay experienced; hopefully the sixth try will be the charm.

ST5 is part of NASA’s New Millennium Program, which was created to identify, develop, build, and test innovative technologies and concepts for use in future missions. After deployment, the micro-sats will be positioned in a “string of pearls” constellation that demonstrates the ability to position the micro-sats to perform simultaneous multi-point measurements of the magnetic field using highly sensitive magnetometers. Using data collected from the ST5 constellation, scientists can begin to understand and map the intensity and direction of the magnetic field, its relation to space weather events, and the affects on our planet.

Watch this neat overview of the mission, as well as this video depicting its innovative launch plan via Pegasus XL rocket.