NASA and Northrop Grumman currently are preparing the agency’s Ionospheric Connection Explorer, or ICON, spacecraft and the Pegasus XL rocket at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California for ferry to the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida by the L-1011 Stargazer aircraft on Oct. 1, 2019. The launch has been rescheduled to Oct. 10, 2019, following the completion of a joint NASA/Northrop Grumman investigation into a Pegasus sensor reading that was not within normal limits during previous ferry and launch attempt flights.

On Nov. 19, Northrop Grumman flew the L-1011 Stargazer and Pegasus XL rocket carrying ICON back to Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. On Nov. 20, they completed the de-mate of Pegasus from the L-1011 and transported the rocket safely into the integration facility. The Northrop Grumman/NASA team continues its investigation into the off-nominal data observed during the Nov. 7 launch attempt. Once the analysis is complete, a new launch date will be determined.

AGU’s Fall Meeting is the largest Earth and space science meeting in the world.

Click "read more" to see ICON or GOLD science-related sessions, posters, and the SPA Town Hall on Monday night.

We're launching ICON from Florida early in the morning on Nov. 7th to study Earth's dynamic interface to space! See the pre-launch news feature here: https://go.nasa.gov/2SPdQpy

Set your alarm or stay up late! Live NASA TV coverage will begin at 11:45 pm Pacific [2:45 a.m. ET] on Nov. 6th, with a 90 minute launch window opening at 12:05 am November 7th at https://nasa.gov/live

NASA and Northrop Grumman will hold a Launch Readiness Review early next week at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to ensure preparations are continuing on track for the launch of the agency’s Ionospheric Connection Explorer, or ICON, satellite.