Local

Atlas V rocket launch delayed again, ULA says, now scheduled for Tuesday

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A rocket launch planned for early Monday morning has been scrubbed a second time after a rocket fuel leak was discovered, according to United Launch Alliance.

3:30 p.m. Sunday update:

United Launch Alliance announced Sunday afternoon that the launch would be delayed again.

According to ULA, the ground storage system leak that scrubbed Saturday’s launch attempt has been repaired.

Now, ULA says they need extra time to verify the sample integrity of the fuel before they can fill the tanks.

The launch was originally scheduled for 4:04 a.m. Sunday, but was pushed back to the same time Monday before it was delayed again.

ULA is now targeting 4:04 a.m. Tuesday for the next launch attempt.

7:45 p.m. Saturday update:

United Launch Alliance announced Saturday night that a planned rocket launch has been scrubbed.

Officials said a leak was discovered in a ground storage system for rocket fuel.

The Atlas V launch was originally set for 4:04 a.m. Sunday.

ULA’s STP3 mission is now set for launch 24 hours later, at 4:04 a.m. Monday.

Channel 9 will continue to monitor the scheduled launch and give continuing coverage on Eyewitness News.

Original report:

The United Launch Alliance rolled out its Atlas V rocket on Friday ahead of a launch set for this weekend.

ULA said the launch is part of the Space Test Program-3 (STP-3) mission for the U.S. Space Force’s (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC). It is carrying payloads for both NASA and the U.S. Space Force.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

PHOTOS: ULA rolls out Atlas V rocket ahead of launch set for this weekend

There is a lot of advanced technology flying on the mission, including sensors for nuclear detonation detection.

Liftoff is planned for 4:04 a.m. Sunday at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

WATCH: SpaceX successfully launches batch of Starlink satellites aboard Falcon 9 rocket

The spacecraft will be delivered to geosynchronous orbit.

PHOTOS: Rocket launches from Central Florida

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

Katlyn Brieskorn, WFTV.com

Katlyn Brieskorn is a Digital Assignment Editor at WFTV. She joined Channel 9 in July 2019.

Adam Poulisse, WFTV.com

Adam Poulisse joined WFTV in November 2019.