Monday, September 22: So, we try to launch once again. Looks good, this time. The stratospheric winds have slowed to an acceptable speed, and the surface winds were supposed to be calm. To the lab at 1:30 am, gondola picked up by the Mobile Launch Vehicle by 2:30, and on the launch pad shortly after 4:00. There's a slight concern about the wind direction, though. The winds at the time blow from the south-west, but it is expected that they would change directions at dawn. They set us for the night-time winds, hoping they'd get us up in time.

And then we wait and wait and wait. Presumably they were worried that the winds would change by the time the got the balloon rolled out and inflated, a 2-hour procedure. At some point after 6:00, they decide to turned us around for the expected morning winds. And then... a lot more waiting. None of us were really sure why we weren't flying... it seemed that we could have flown at any time this morning, if only the balloon had been inflated. But the decision kept getting put back. A frustrating experience.

Finally, shortly before 10:00, we get the word: get ready, we're launching! The parachute gets rolled out, we all breathe a sigh of relief. Three minutes later... they've changed their minds. Pack 'er up. Try again tomorrow.

Miles suggests: Fake the data!. Thanks, Miles.