Stray Shrimp Boats Force NASA to Halt $200-Million Mission
NASA had to delay a $200-million mission to study the sun Sunday because of stray shrimp fishermen.
Two commercial fishing boats were offshore, right in the launch danger zone, as NASA entered the final part of its countdown. One boat eventually began moving away, but the other remained anchored even though a streamer with a “please move” message was dropped onto the deck by an Air Force helicopter.
With only 2 1/2 minutes remaining in the launch window, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration halted the countdown and said it would try again this morning.
The rocket holds NASA’s Ace solar observatory, which will study atomic particles streaming from the sun as well as from the far reaches of the Milky Way.
Coast Guard petty officer Clyde Carter said the shrimp fishermen usually work all night and sleep during the day.
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