spacetoday.net: Atlas launch delayed to mid-month

Posted: Fri, Aug 3, 2012, 8:20 AM ET (1220 GMT)
The launch of a classified payload on an Atlas 5 rocket has been postponed to mid-August after technicians found a problem with a key piece of ground equipment during a launch attempt late Wednesday night. The Atlas 5 was scheduled to lift off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 3:44 am EDT (0744 GMT) Thursday, but the launch was scrubbed because of the failure of an unidentified piece of equipment on the launch range. The launch was initially rescheduled for early Friday and then early Saturday, but United Launch Alliance announced Thursday night that the launch had now been postponed to no earlier than August 14 to address a "range instrumentation issue". Both the launch vehicle and its payload are reported by ULA to be in good condition. The launch, designed mission NROL-36, is carrying a classified satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office as well as 11 cubesat secondary payloads.