After scrub, ULA to try Friday launch of Atlas V and spy satellite
James DeanUnited Launch Alliance plans to try again early Friday to launch a classified U.S. intelligence mission from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station atop an Atlas V rocket.
Powerful wind gusts scrubbed the company's first attempt Thursday morning to launch the National Reconnaissance Office's NROL-52 mission, while the rocket was being fueled with super-cold propellants for a planned 4:22 a.m. liftoff.
[Atlas V set to launch secret U.S. spy satellite early Friday]
[SpaceX test fires Falcon 9 rocket at KSC ahead of Saturday launch]
CEO Tory Bruno said the strong ground-level winds buffeting Launch Complex 41 were too much to overcome.
"See you tomorrow," he said on Twitter around 3 a.m. Thursday
During the countdown, wind gusts exceeded 50 mph as bands of rain showers blew through the spaceport.
Weather figures to be a bigger challenge early Friday. Forecasters are predicting just a 30 percent chance of acceptable weather, with cumulus and thick clouds the primary concerns.
"Widespread showers are likely with an isolated thunderstorm threat," reads the forecast from the Air Force's 45th Weather Squadron.
If necessary, ULA may have more launch opportunities available through the Columbus Day weekend. since SpaceX has delayed a planned Saturday evening launch from Kennedy Space Center to next Wednesday, Oct. 11.
But Tropical Storm Nate's path up the Gulf of Mexico— potentially growing to hurricane strength — could complicate the weekend weather outlook.
The latest forecast predicts a 60 percent chance of weather meeting launch rules for a Saturday morning attempt, if the mission doesn't fly Friday.
Contact Dean at 321-242-3668 or jdean@floridatoday.com. And follow on Twitter at @flatoday_jdean and on Facebook at facebook.com/jamesdeanspace.