Fwd: Better weather for tonight's Delta IV rocket launch

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From: "Gary Johnson" <gjohnson144@comcast.net>
Date: May 16, 2014 3:53:58 PM CDT
To: "Gary Johnson" <gjohnson144@comcast.net>
Subject: FW: Better weather for tonight's Delta IV rocket launch

 

 

Better weather for tonight's Delta IV rocket launch

ULA Quality Specialist Karen Sanchez talks about her job and the upcoming launch of a Delta IV with a GPS II F-6 satellite scheduled for Thursday night. Video by Malcolm Denemark Posted May 12, 2014

James Dean, FLORIDA TODAY 2:29 p.m. EDT May 16, 2014

Weather forces launch of Delta IV rocket to Friday night.

(Photo: United Launch Alliance)

United Launch Alliance plans to try again Friday to launch a Delta IV rocket and Global Positioning System satellite from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, after stormy weather scrubbed Thursday's planned attempt.

Conditions are expected to be much better this evening, with a 90 percent chance of favorable conditions during a 19-minute window opening at 8:03 p.m.

Thursday night's attempt was scrubbed about an hour before the planned 8:09 p.m. liftoff from Launch Complex 37, with multiple weather rules in "red" or no-go status.

A prolonged lightning warning held up some operations late in the countdown, including the deployment of required weather balloons that provide important data including high-altitude winds.

The countdown began with forecasters predicting only a 30 percent chance of acceptable launch conditions.

Despite the low odds, a 330-foot mobile service tower rolled back from the 206-foot rocket before noon, revealing it on the launch pad.

Fueling with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen proceeded amid thunderstorms and occasionally heavy rain and strong winds, but launch teams hoped a line of storms would pass before an 18-minute window closed.

The propellant tanks will be emptied and the process started over on this afternoon.

On top of the rocket is the sixth of 12 satellites upgrading the Air Force's aging GPS constellation. It's the second of four GPS missions planned to launch from the Cape this year.

 

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