Europe postpones launch of planet mission, seeks Soyuz fix European space officials have postponed the launch of a three-year mission to study planets in other solar systems shortly before it was due to blast offSAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- European space officials on Tuesday postponed the launch of a three-year mission to study planets in other solar systems shortly before it was due to blast off. The European Space Agency announced that the launch from Kourou, French Guiana, of the Characterising ExOPlanets Satellite (CHEOPS) mission would be delayed by at least a day. ESA Director of Science Guenther Hasinger tweeted that “a software error in the Fregat upper stage” of the Soyuz rocket was responsible for the postponement. “With this complex mission, we will not take any risks," he added, advising people to “keep fingers crossed for (a launch) tomorrow” at the same time. "The new target launch date will be announced as soon as possible," the agency said in a statement.

Source: ABC News December 17, 2019 09:00 UTC