Spaceflight

NASA has postponed indefinitely the launch of its 20,450kg (45,000lb) 10m (33ft)-tall Max Launch Abort System (MLAS) flight-test vehicle from its Wallops Flight Test Facility in Virginia.

Planned for 25 June, the launch has been delayed at least four times since its original target of September 2008.

The MLAS test vehicle, designed by the NASA Engineering and Safety Center, is bullet shaped, has four solid rocket motors and a full-scale crew module simulator. It is an alternate launch abort system for the Orion crew exploration vehicle, which has a single motor system.

© NASA NASA Max Launch Abort System (MLAS) flight-test vehicle