Boats in Danger Zone Force NASA to Scrub Launch

A Mariner's Notice from NASA Wallops shows a danger zone boats must avoid; this is where remnants from the rocket launch would splash down after lift-off. Source: NASA Wallops — A Mariner’s Notice from NASA Wallops shows a danger zone boats must avoid; this is where remnants from the rocket launch would splash down after lift-off. Source: NASA Wallops

Boats entered a restricted zone established off the east coasts of Virginia and Maryland forcing NASA to scrub this morning’s scheduled launch of a rocket from the NASA Wallops Flight Facility. If that mission were to launch successfully, colorful glowing clouds would have appeared high in the sky as part of scientific research work.

A Mariner’s Notice is in effect from May 30 through June 6 from 4:15am to 5:45am to stop boats from entering these red spaces. If anything or anyone becomes a potential risk for launch debris, NASA scrubs the launch. A small area exists around the immediate launch pad while a much larger area exists over the open waters of the Atlantic where the spent rocket will eventually splash-down.

The full Mariner’s Notice can be viewed here: https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/notmar_hall_46015_2.pdf