Friday, March 13, 2009

NEW: Atlas V Cape Launch Reset for Tuesday

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V is now scheduled to liftoff this Tuesday evening from here at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on a mission to deploy a faster data communications satellite for the United States Air Force.

Launch is currently targeted for 9:24 pm EDT this Tuesday evening from Launch Complex 41. The Atlas Launch team, in association with the Air Force, delayed this launch three days to allow the Shuttle launch team to work to get Discovery launched on Sunday night. The Eastern Test Range - which control's the flights departing the Cape - needs about a two day turn around in order to switch from one launched rocket to another.

The Wideband Global SATCOM 2 is the next in a series of WGS satellites intended to speed up data relays to between two to four gigabytes per second, from around the globe. The first WGS was launched in 2007, while the third is on the horizon for a launch the autumn 2009.

Cape weather looks marginal with a chance of showers and only a 60 to 70% chance of favorable weather.

SpacelaunchNews.com will have LIVE coverage of the launch beginning at 9:05 pm on Tuesday evening. Stay tune for updates.

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