13 October

1997: On 13 October 1997, the NASA/ESA/ASI Cassini-Huygens mission had been due to be launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida, USA.

At nearly the last moment, the launch was cancelled. Engineers found a problem with a battery testing device on the launch pad, some minor computer glitches and high upper-level winds that posed a safety threat in the event of an explosion during launch.

Upper-level wind conditions had the potential of blowing debris outside safe impact limit lines. The mobile service tower was moved back into position around the rocket and engineers detanked the Centaur upper stage, and restarted launch processing.

The launch was delayed by two days.