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NASA's CONTOUR spacecraft was successfully launched this morning at 2.47 EDT from Cape Canaveral. Sixty four minutes later the spacecraft separated from the third stage of the Delta 2 launch vehicle and NASA's Deep Space Network tracking station at Goldstone, California reports that the probe is now in a good orbit. CONTOUR mission controllers have also confirmed that the spacecraft is operating normally and is ready for its first manoeuvres in orbit.
The CONTOUR spacecraft will use repeated encounters with the Earth to sling-shot it towards both its comet targets. The probe is due to reach Comet Encke in November 2003 and Comet Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 in June 2006.
More info: CONTOUR Website
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