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.

Discovery Launch No Earlier than Sunday

The Sun sets tonight as Discovery awaits a Sunday launch.

NASA Space Shuttle Mission Manager's have elected to purge the external tank and trouble shoot the hydrogen fuel line valve beginning Thursday afternoon. NASA says a launch by Discovery would not occur until at least Sunday, and before March 17th.

"Clearly an external leak on the ground side..." states shuttle management. Prior to the scrub, launch control saw the leak and tried cycling the valve several times to hopefully dislodge any debris or ice. This leak is like nothing they had seen before.

Several dynamics are in play right now with a lot of unknowns. First, an external tank purge takes twenty hours, and thus an inspection of the leaking hydrogen valve can not be investigated until early afternoon tomorrow.

Next, the valve change out and what technicians need to perform would occur on Friday. "We have really good access to this area... we have to disconnect" several items to get to the valve, stated the Team stated this evening. Following successful valve cycle checks, Mission Managers will meet on Saturday to elect to fly on Sunday.

A Sunday evening launch time would see the solid rocket boosters ignite at 7:43:38 pm EDT.

Sunday is one of the last days to fly a nearly full duration mission, however Shuttle program managers state that Discovery can launch up until this Tuesday, March 17th. Whether Discovery flies on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday of next week, the mission of STS-119 will be a shorter than planned flight - with two instead of four spacewalks.

One last dynamic is the fact that an Atlas V has the eastern range for both this Sunday & Monday. Will they give up their days on the range and allow NASA to fly before they do?

Weather wise, Sunday and Monday looks all right, with Sunday currently being 80% favorable and 70% favorable on Monday, stated Kathy Winters of the Air Force Meteorology group at Kennedy Space Center this evening.

Shuttle Management News Conf at 6:30 pm

Liquid Hydrogen Line leading to the External Tank today.

UPDATE: Watch a NASA Shuttle Management news conference LIVE right here on SpaceLaunchNews.com. Launch options and their views on fixing the hydrogen leak will be discussed. Time is set for 6:30 pm EDT - could be delayed several minutes.

SCRUB: Tank Fuel Leak Delays Launch

Launch of Discovery tonight has been called off for today due to a hydrogen fuel leak originating from a line between the external tank & Orbiter. NASA says they are working toward a launch on Thursday night at 8:54 pm ET.

NASA has to until Friday to launch Discovery, or stand down until April 8th, due to a Soyuz mission to the space station, and the ability to carry out all of the STS-119 mission objectives.

Crowds Beginning to Gather in Titusville

Spaceview Park in Titusville today. photo: Mary Myers/ SLN

At Spaceview Park in north Titusville, Florida, crowds are beginning to gather late this morning and claim their spot for viewing tonight's launch of Discovery. The park is directly 10 miles due west of Discovery's launch pad, and provides one of the closest locals for viewing by the general public.

T-11 hours, 45 minutes Until Launch...

Discovery this morning awaits liftoff. photo: Jimmy Brown SLN

Here is a brief Launch Day time line for today [all times EDT]:

11:55 am: External Tank fueling begins
12 noon: Flight crew awakes to begin launch day
3:00 pm: ET fueling should be completed
4:00 pm: Crew meal period
4:00 pm: spacelaunchnews.com LIVE Launch Coverage begins
5:00 pm Crew dons their orange pressure suits
5:30 pm: Crew departs for launch pad 39-A
5:55 pm: Crew begins orbiter ingress
7:05 pm: Discovery's hatch closure
8:26 pm: T-:09 minutes HOLDING (40 min Hold)
9:11:14 pm: T-:09 minutes and counting
9:20:14 pm: Exact launch time [to be updated during T-9min Hold]

Stay tune for updates through today, and all mission long.

Space Shuttle Fueling Nears; 14 hours until Launch

The countdown for launch of space shuttle Discovery remains on track this morning, with a beautiful evening and a full moon on the horizon to guide this flight toward the international space station.

Ahead today at Noon EDT, space shuttle launch control will begin the fuel loading of 500,000 gallons of liquid oxygen & liquid hydrogen into the huge rust-colored external fuel tank [above, today at 8AM ET] - the next major milestone in preparation for Discovery's launch tonight at 9:20:14 pm EDT.

The fuel loading into the external tank - attached to the belly of the orbiter - will take approximately three hours to complete. During the following six hours, the LO2 & LH2 fuels will be topped off as they bleed into a gaseous state as the countdown moves toward zero.

Also, at about noon EDT, the seven member flight crew will be awoken to begin their launch day activities.

Led by STS-119 commander Lee Archambault, Discovery's crew of seven includes pilot Tony Antonelli, and Mission Specialists Joseph Acaba, John Phillips, Steve Swanson, Richard Arnold and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Koichi Wakata.

Service Structure moved back at 2AM

Discovery and the Moon today - Beautiful!

Gorgeous! What an extremely beautiful sight early this morning following the 2am EDT rollback of the service structure exposing space shuttle Discovery - ready to fly late tonight at 9:20:14 pm EDT.

Looking at the full moon reminds me... It was forty years ago this week that the crew of Apollo 9 were in earth orbit testing the lunar module for that summer's first landing on the moon.

Discovery 24 hours from STS-119 Liftoff

The launch of Discovery on space shuttle mission STS-119 is only twenty-four hours from lift-off from Launch Complex 39-A here at the Kennedy Space Center.

Discovery (right, at 9:08 pm ET), sits on her seaside launch pad bathed in a white spectrum of spot lights, as technicians finish cock pit switch settings; load the crew cabin with last minute crew and payload gear; and prepare for the rotating service structure's [RSS] rollback later tonight.

The RSS covers the orbiter on the pad and allows technicians to access difficult areas around the orbiter for maintenance or inspection detail.

Launch time on Wednesday evening is 9:20 pm EDT. This launch time is occurring at the best time during the middle of the ten minute launch window to save on fuel and time in catching up with and later docking to the international space station on Friday night.

Cape Weather Air Force officers are forecasting a 90% favorable weather prior to and at launch tomorrow. Earlier today, NASA Test Director Steve Payne stated, "We have no real concerns and we are ready for the exciting mission that lies ahead of us.”

Discovery's crew includes commander Lee Archambault, along with Pilot Tony Antonelli, and Mission Specialists Joseph Acaba, John Phillips, Steve Swanson, Richard Arnold and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Koichi Wakata.

The seven member crew of Discovery have been awake for several hours.

Station Spacewalk proceding with No Issues

Now three and one-half hours into today's spacewalk on the Russian section of the space station, everything is going smoothly by Expedition 18 Commander Mike Fincke and Flight Engineer Yury Lonchakov.

The spacewalk could wrap up earlier than planned due to their quick work 220 miles above earth.

Today's excursion is the 120th spacewalk at the space station in support of assembly and maintenance. It also began what will be a very busy next two weeks aboard the station as the Expedition 18 crew awaits Discovery's docking in three days and the start of four more spacewalks and the installation of a huge solar array assembly, too.

Space Station Crew to walk in Space Today

International space station commander Mike Fincke and flight engineer Yury Lonchakov will spend six hours outside of the orbiting outpost this afternoon to install a European science experiment and perform some housekeeping chores.

The year's first spacewalk should start at about 12:20 pm EDT, today.

Lonchakov [EV 1] will suitup into the Russian Orlan spacesuit with the blue stripes; while Fincke [EV 2] will wear the red striped Orlan suit. Once outside, the pair will setup a work platform to assist them in the installation of the EXPOSE-R, a European experiment which will expose seeds and spores to the space environment. A spacewalk to install EXPOSE-R on Dec. 23 ran into difficulties during the installation.

SpaceLaunchNews.com will have LIVE coverage on our Home page of the spacewalk beginning at 12 noon EDT.

Meanwhile inside the station, the third Expedition 18 crew member will act as the spacewalk coordinator - assisting with the robotic arm and timeline details for her companions. Sandy Magnus will help the two from inside the station. Magnus is also awaiting Discovery's docking on Friday, and will return to earth with the STS-119 crew following Discovery's departure.

While outside the station, the spacewalkers will work to secure some of the station's thermal insulation and take some detailed images of select areas of the station.

Two Days Until Launch: Discovery's Ready

As the countdown for the next space shuttle flight began last night, there was a "feel-good" mood here at the Kennedy Space Center that echoed through every hard working technician a sense of pride that Wednesday's launch will show how their commitment to the space program has made this flight possible.

The month of February was spent investigating and later replacing the much talked about gaseous hydrogen [GH2] flow valves and whether Discovery's three were as cracked as the previous shuttle mission's were. Discovery will fly with newer GH2 valves that have flown on less flights than Discovery's original three.

At 7:00 pm EDT, the countdown began counting down for the first space shuttle mission of 2009 - and the first flight under the Obama administration.

Earlier, the seven member flight crew arrived here at KSC, and then headed off to the Operations & Checkout building - their living quarters for the next few days. Hours later, the mission's commander and pilot - Lee Archambault and Tony Antonelli - then boarded a Gulfstream II jet to practice a few touch and go's here at the Shuttle Landing Facility. The Gulfstream handles similar to the orbiter as they take the jet up and then nose dive toward the runway with little power with either the commander or pilot taking turns at the stick.

Discovery's Crew Arrives at KSC for Launch

Under beautiful blue skies along the Space Coast, multiple T-38A trainer jets arrived here at the Kennedy Space Center carrying the crew of the next space shuttle mission following their 90 minute flight from Houston.

Making a brief remark, the commander of Discovery's STS-119 mission, Lee Archambault [right], spoke for his crew of seven at 3:09 pm, saying how happy they are to be here. He then thanked the entire NASA team nation wide for helping fix and change out the faulty gaseous hydrogen [GH2] flow valves. There are three GH2 valves in the tail section of Discovery, and cracks on the last shuttle launch prompted NASA to order Discovery's replaced with newer, less flown versions.

At 7:00 pm EDT tonight, Kennedy's firing room will start the launch countdown beginning at the T-:43 hour mark. Multiple built-in holds will occur during the next three days, leading to Discovery's solid rocket booster's igniting at 9:20 pm EDT on Wednesday.

Watch LIVE NASA-TV coverage from now through the end of Discovery's mission via spacelaunchnews.com. And if you use Twitter, add us "spacelaunchnews" and follow our continuing multimedia updates on your PDA or BlackBerry.

Discovery's Crew in T-38A's are nearing KSC

Discovery's crew of seven departed Ellington Air Field near Houston, TX at 1:05 pm EDT today, en route to the Kennedy Space Center for their Wednesday night trip to space.

The flight crew should begin touching down at KSC's shuttle landing facility in about twenty minutes [prior to 2:45 pm ]. Live coverage right here on spacelaunchnews.com.

Discovery Countdown & Crew Arrival Today

...Let the launch week begin!

The flight of orbiter Discovery on space shuttle mission STS-119 begins its prelaunch operations today, starting with the arrival of the seven member crew here at the Kennedy Space Center.

The flight crew are scheduled to arrive at the shuttle landing facility this afternoon - with no firm exact time set. Arriving in their T-38A trainer jets, the crew will make a brief statement before boarding a van.

Discovery is set to launch from complex 39-A this Wednesday evening at 9:20 pm EDT. SpaceLaunchNews.com will have complete live launch coverage all week long beginning on Sunday.

Also today, inside the launch control center, the countdown and NASA's Call to Stations will begin at 7PM EDT, at the T-:43 hour mark.

Led by mission commander Lee Archambault, this crew includes pilot Tony Antonelli and mission specialists Joseph Acaba, John Phillips, Steve Swanson, Richard Arnold and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Koichi Wakata. Wakata will begin a three month stay aboard the international space station following Discovery's departure.

The crew have been in quarentine at their base at the Johnson Space Center south of Houston, TX for several days. Once they arrive at KSC, they will stay at the Operations and Checkout building up until launch in special rooms.

Keep it here for the latest updates, and join Us on Twitter via your PDA or BlackBerry for quick updates, and our own media links to what's happing during Discovery's flight.

Our Favorite Delta II launch Image from Friday

SpaceLaunchNews.com just received this great NASA/KSC image of tonight's Delta II 7925 launch with NASA's Kepler space telescope aboard. Note how the smoke billows up and wraps around the rocket stack.

Kepler Spacecraft Begins Astronomy Mission

This evening's launch of the Delta II from here at the Cape was a complete success, as minutes ago the rocket's payload - NASA's Kepler Telescope - separated from it's third stage engine and thus began it's for years of space exploration. The entire launch phase of the United Launch Alliance's Delta II was nominal as it boosted Kepler into space. Spacecraft separation occurred at 11:53 pm EST.

Liftoff occurred on time at 10:49:57 pm EST, following a nominal countdown.

At 11:57 pm, Kepler was located 950 miles above earth, traveling at a speed of 6.6 miles per second - or 23,760 mph. Kepler will now undergo a two month checkout and systems testing period prior to going operational.

NASA Begins a New Mission of Discovery

A beautiful night time launch of NASA's newest space telescope occurred this evening as the Kepler spacecraft began it's four year mission to discover new worlds in nearby galaxies.

A United Launch Alliance Delta II 7925 departed Cape Canaveral Air Force Station with her NASA payload aboard on time at 10:49:57 pm EST. The complete launch profile through the first 12 minutes was all nominal.

Countdown under four minutes...

All go for launch at 10:49 pm ET tonight.

T-:30 minutes until NASA's Kepler Mission begins

NASA's latest Discovery mission - Kepler - is less than thirty minutes away from launch from launch complex 17B here at Cape Canaveral, FL.

Watch the pre launch and launch LIVE here on spacelaunchnews.com.

Weather remains go, and the launch team are not working any issues.

Delta II Launch in One Hour at Cape Canaveral

Two images taken at 9:43 pm ET of Delta II / Kepler.

SpaceLaunchNews.com is reporting all remains go for tonight's launch of a Delta II 7925 rocket from here at Cape Canaveral. One hour until tonight's planned 10:49 pm EST liftoff.

NASA's Kepler Spacecraft set to Fly Tonight

A spacecraft known as Kepler is just hours away from beginning a four year long mission to research the galaxies around ours to investigate if there are any earth-like planets which we could travel to and explore someday.

Liftoff of a Delta II 7925 rocket from here at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station is set for 10:49 pm EST, from Launch Complex 17-B. The launch window is three minutes. If the 10:49 pm window does not look go to support launch, then there is a second window which opens at 11:13 pm.

"The mission attempts to answer a question that is old as time itself -- are other planets like ours out there?" states NASA's Science Mission Directorate Ed Weiler.

Tune into SpaceLaunchNews.com this evening beginning at 9PM EST for complete LIVE television coverage of the launch activities. And, if you are like me and use Twitter for updates, visit twitter.com/NASAKepler for mission updates via your PDA.

Launch Profile Tonight:

10:49p: Delta II Launch
10:50p: 3 more SRB's ignite
10:54p: First stage engine shutdown
10:54p: Second Stage engine burn
10:58p: Kepler in orbit: 115 miles up
11:40p: Delta 2nd Stage re firing
11:46p: Delta 3rd Stage firing
11:51p: Kepler separates from nose cone

Following two months of checkouts, Kepler will then begin her mission to study over 10,000 stars around our own star - the Sun.

Discovery could launch this Wednesday Night

Space shuttle program managers will head into Friday's flight readiness review aiming for the launch of shuttle Discovery this Wednesday with the confidence that the gaseous hydrogen flow valves replacement is well behind them.

The top level meeting by all agency centers will begin Friday afternoon and last several hours as senior NASA managers report on the valve replacements, and any other technical issues dealing with the space shuttle stack. Weather for next week will also be addressed on Friday.

Current weather models show a cool front moving through central Florida next Thursday, bringing showers and cooler temperatures to the Cape. This Wednesday is more ideal with temps in the mid-60's at launch time and scattered clouds.

And so, if everyone states that the agency can go fly on Wednesday, March 11th, then NASA will set that date as the official launch date.

Delayed a full month due to testing and later change out of the three gaseous hydrogen flow valves located behind the space shuttle's main engine's, KSC engineers today are confident enough that the replacement GH2 valves are in good shape to support Discovery's ascent.

A piece of one of Endeavour's GH2 valves broke off during its launch last November, and some engineers state that could have been a major issue to Endeavours flight performance and early flight termination.

A launch this Wednesday would see the liftoff time occur at 9:20 pm EDT. Space Launch News.com will have complete live coverage of Discovery's launch week and launch day activities, beginning with the crew arrival on Sunday night here at the Cape.

NASA must launch Discovery on or before March 13th due to full mission requirements. [Addressed in my earlier story below] Russia's launch and docking of a manned Soyuz to the international space station late this month and an Atlas V rocket launch from the Cape are factors in launching NASA's 125th space shuttle flight before the ides of March.

Check back on Friday for our complete rundown of STS-119's mission times and new information.

Delta II Kepler Launch Delayed One Day

On the heels of the lost OCO satellite due to a failed nose fairing jettison after launch, United Launch Alliance has delayed the launch of their Delta II-7925 one day to research their nose fairing.

Liftoff of the Kepler telescope on a four year mission to discover earth-like planets is now planned for this Friday, March 6 at 10:49 pm EST.

Engineers from ULA are today inspecting and checking the region which allows the nose fairing cone to separate from around the spacecraft.

Image of the Suspect Hydrogen Flow Valve

On Launch Pad 39A earlier today, a technician holds one of space shuttle Discovery's gaseous hydrogen flow control valves after its removal.
The valves channel the flow of gaseous hydrogen [GH2] from the main engines to the external fuel tank. In a few days, technicians will install three newer, less flown GH2 flow valves into Discovery's aft compartment.

March 12 set as Discovery target Launch Date

Space shuttle program managers late today announced that they have moved to select March 12 as a target launch date, and that a flight readiness review next week will formalize that date.

Managers stated today that the change out of the three gaseous hydrogen [GH2] flow valves located in the engine section of Discovery has gone well. Following a few tests, managers will meet again on March 4th to formalize a new launch date or press on for a March 12 launch.

A lift-off of Discovery on Thursday, March 12th, would see her solid rocket boosters ignite at 8:54 pm EDT [daylight savings time or EDT begins on March 8].

Once in space, Discovery would steer for a docking with the international space station on March 14.

Now this is the big picture... Discovery has to launch prior to March 14th due to the Russian launch of the Expedition 19 crew to the station on March 29th. Due to the full slate of objectives during the shuttle's STS-119 mission, Discovery has to install a new set of solar arrays and perform four planned spacewalks and undock before the arrival of Soyuz TMA on March 31st.

If launch cannot occur before March 14th, then the KSC launch team will stand down until April 7th, which is also undocking and landing day of the current Expedition 18 crew aboard a Soyuz-TMA. And, as the shuttle team states, if Discovery flys in April instead of March, the mid-May Hubble servicing flight will be delayed two weeks.

Space Station work continues during Shuttle Delay

While space shuttle program mangers access whether or not to fly Discovery during March or wait until April, the three person crew aboard the international space station continue their daily work on orbit as they prepare for the arrival of two manned spacecraft soon.

Shuttle program manages late yesterday gave technicians here at the Cape the go ahead to replace Discovery's three gaseous hydrogen (GH2) flow valves which are located in the aft compartment of the orbiter. This work will take possible two weeks to perform and test, thus delaying Discovery's flight to the space station. The "suspect" GH2 valves aboard Discovery show signs of slight cracks at the lip of the valves, thus the need to replace them with newer, less flown valves.

On March 26th, a Russian Soyuz TMA-14 spacecraft will carry a new crew to the station to replace current station commander Mike Fincke and cosmonaut Yuri Lonchakov. The new Expedition 19 crew of Cosmonaut Gennady Padalkawill (commander), astronaut Mike Barratt (flight engineer), along with spaceflight participant Charles Simonyl, will dock to the outpost in space two days later.

Padalkawill & Barratt will stay in space until mid-October, when they will return home aboard a Soyuz and a thud in southwestern Russia.

Simonyl, who will stay aboard for about 10 days, will ride home with Fincke & Lonchakov around April 5th. Back in April 2007, Simonyl - a former chief at Microsoft - made his first trip to the space station following his launch from Russia.

You can have fun following Charles' prelaunch and flight activities via his personal Web site.

The current third station crew member, Sandy Magnus, was due to come home aboard Discovery this month, however that flight's delay until March or April will see her possibly become a member of Expedition 19, if Discovery cannot launch until April.

Charles Note: Based on current discussions here at the Cape, I feel it is very likely that Discovery will not fly until after April 8th. Due to the hydrogen flow valve change out and the Soyuz mission to the station in four weeks, an April 8 launch attempt will likely be the earliest option.

NASA satellite mission fails in Launch Mishap

A NASA satellite design to observe and collect data on the earth's emission of carbon dioxide failed to reach its planned orbit following liftoff this morning from Vandenberg, AFB in California.

Launch occured aboard an Orbital Sciences Taurus XL rocket at 4:55:30 am EST.

Liftoff via NASA-TV showed a normal launch, as the solid fueled rocket burned through it's four stages during the ascent. However, launch operations came on suddenly near the end of powered flight calling, "...it appears we have had a contingency with the OCO mission ... enact the mission mishap preparedness plan."

Moments later, it was confirmed by launch control that the nose fairing did not seperate from around the O.C.O. spacecraft. Thus, the spacecraft had too much weight to achieve orbit.

This NASA image above shows the O.C.O. spacecraft inside the suspect nose fairing.

8:10 am ET UPDATE: During a news conference taking place right now here at Vandenberg, members of the O.C.O. team announced that the O.C.O. spacecraft, "landed just short of Antartica [and] in the [southern] Atlantic Ocean."

An investigation board will be announced in the coming weeks. Another Taurus XL launch is planned for later in 2009, and the Taurus XL team stated that that flight has not been impacted.

This was the second launch failure of the Taurus XL in it's eight flights.

New Target Launch Date for Discovery

UPDATE: NASA shuttle program managers have delayed the launch of space shuttle Discovery until no earlier than February 27th. This is a "working date" and an official launch date will be announced late next week following a program management meeting.

Team of engineers and techs both here at Kennedy Space Center, and westward at the John Stennis Space Center in south Mississippi, are reviewing and continuing data runs regarding the hydrogen flow valves in the aft engine compartment of the orbiter.

If NASA sets the official date for Feb. 27, then the launch time would be 1:32 am EST.

++ SLN: Up to the Minute would then begin our LIVE launch coverage from here at the Cape at 8:30 pm EST, on Feb. 26th. Tune in via our NASA-TV link at top, right column. ++

NASA's Kepler Spacecraft nears March Launch

Next Month, a NASA spacecraft will set off on a decade long mission to discover new planets in other nearby solar systems as humanity looks to discover if there is a planet similar to that of earth.

NASA's Kepler spacecraft, according to mission management, will "survey more than 100,000 stars in our galaxy" to determine if there are any earth-type planets in their orbits.

A United Launch Alliance Delta II is set to depart launch complex 17B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on March 5th, at 10:48 pm EST. The 30 minute launch window extends from 10:48 pm to 11:18 pm.

++ SLN: Up to the Minute will provide LIVE coverage of the March 5th launch one hour prior to its planned lift-off. ++

The January 30th image of Kepler [above] - taken at the AstroTech facility here in Titusville, FL - shows the gold foiled observatory; several white thrusters; and one of its dark blue solar arrays.

Space Station News; Progress 32 Launches

Supplies, food and water are currently en route to the crew of the international space station this morning, following a beautiful launch from Russia of the Progress 32 supply vessel.

The cargo craft lifted off this morning at 12:49 am EST, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Russia. Nine minutes later, the craft was in earth orbit, and moments later deplyed its solar arrays.

Station port-of-call for the Progress is set to occur at 2.19 am EST, on Friday the 13th. Progress will arrive and then dock automatically to the Russian Piers docking port. Once docked, the station's crew will spend the next next week unloading 4,900 pounds of supplies, including 1,900 lbs. of propellant, aboard the station. It will later become a trash bin during March and then later undocked for a firery return to earth.

++ SLN: Up to the Minute will carry the docking LIVE via our link at top, right column.++

Meanwhile, the three person crew of the orbital outpost are busy with daily experiment runs, exercise, and cleaning chores. With Discovery's launch now delayed until NET Feb. 22, they are reworking mission time lines as they prepare to support the orbiter's docking. Discovery will bring to the station the final huge set of solar arrays. You can view the station most nights from your home, either after sunset or prior to sunrise, on a clear day.

For example, we picked Atlanta, GA and found that the city will have two great five minute viewing opportunities upcoming as the space station travels overhead at 223 miles up.

1) Monday 16th: 6:20a ET, station travels from S to NE (and)
2) Tuesday 17th: 6:48a ET, station travels W-SW to NE

Stay tune right here for future Discovery launch assessments as the Cape works to ready the orbiter for the first shuttle flight of 2009.

Shuttle Managers announce Launch Slip

Space shuttle program management announced this afternoon that the target launch date for the next flight would be delayed by a few days to allow for more testing related to the shuttle's hydrogen valves.

The planning launch date of February 19 has now been moved back to February 22, to give launch pad engineers more time to assess data being collected to see if slight cracks exist on any of the three hydrogen flow valves located in the aft engine compartment of Discovery. Cracks were discovered last November following Endeavour's mission.

During Endeavour's climb to orbit, when the shuttle's main engine's are at full throttle - one of her three hydrogen flow valve began leaking through a crack, causing extra hydrogen to flow into the main engines. The other two valves, according to shuttle managers, decreased their flow rate to keep the overall flow nominal.

If Discovery is given the go to launch on February 22, lift-off time would be 3:31 am EST from pad 39-A. That would place the orbiter on a space station docking timeline of 11:55 pm EST, the following day. Landing would then occur on March 7th, with a possible one day extension.

This Friday the 13th, a meeting will be held to assess the data taken on the valves and as to what options will need to be addressed.

Delta II Launches Weather Satellite from California

America's newest meteorological satellite received a ride into space early this morning, departing California aboard a Delta II rocket following a few days of delays.

The United Launch Alliance's Delta II lifted-off on time this morning at 2:22 am PST [5:22 am EST] from launch pad SLC-02 at Vandenberg, AFB in California [image above via VAFB]. Carrying NOAA's weather satellite - GOES-N - the Delta's upper stage will release the payload an hour later. A series of attitude firings and solar array deployments will then follow as it sets up for five years of polar orbital operations.

NOAA-N will follow in it's family history in taking the satellite pictures you view on your local news and the Weather Channel. It will also become a becon for tropical activity beginning this Summer forthe Pacific and Gulf of Mexico regions.

This April, a Delta IV will launch from here at the Cape and deliver the GOES-O weather satellite into a geostationary orbit around the equator.

Busy Work Day inside Discovery's Tail

Engineers and technicians are spending another day in the aft section of the space shuttle Discovery this morning as they inspect and repair damaged wiring in time for a possible launch late this month.

Up to the Minute recorded the image above at 8:01 am ET this morning, of Discovery as she sat surrounded by the rotating service structure on launch pad 39-A here at the Kennedy Space Center.

A planning target launch date of February 19th will be confirmed in one week following a readiness review.

Work on the electrical wire repair and inspection of a suspect liquid hydrogen control valve in the main engine section of Discovery. One of the three valves has a small crack on the leading edge, and testing is in work out to see if it will perform during the ascent. 

Delta 2 Launch Scrubbed at Vandenberg

The launch of a Delta II from Vandenberg, AFB in California was delayed earlier this morning due to an issue and has been rescheduled for Friday morning.

Currently, launch of a Delta II from launch complex 2 at Vandenberg, is set for tomorrow morning at 5:22 am EST (2:22 am PST). The launch window is 10 minutes.

+++ SpaceLaunchNews.com's Up to the Minute will carry LIVE coverage of the launch tomorrow beginning at about 3:30 am EST. Click On our NASA-TV link at top, right column. +++

Once aloft, the Delta II [above, taken yesterday via VAFB] will release NOAA's GOES-N meteorological satellite into a polar orbit above the earth. A "Polar orbit" means a vertical orbit. There it will begin to replace an aging GOES satellite.

DISCOVERY LAUNCH DELAYED ONE WEEK

The launch of mission STS-119 and the space shuttle Discovery has been delayed one week due to the ship's replacement liquid hydrogen valve tests.

A new launch date of February 19th is simply a new target date and not official at this time. However, a Feb. 19th launch time would be 4:41 am EST. Discovery would then dock with the international space station less than two days later at just after 1 am EST on Feb. 21st.

A Feb. 10th launch assessment will discuss the readiness of the space transportation system.

Stay tune for more news soon...

ARES 1X Stacking Toward July Test Launch

At the Kennedy Space Center today, stacking of the ARES 1X test vehicle continues in high bay 4 of the Vehicle Assembly Building.

In this NASA/KSC image taken this morning, workers are moving quickly to prepare for the anticipated test flight this July - or August based on the need to use Pad 39B in support of the Hubble flight.

Russia's Tsyklon 3 launches Science Satellite

The Russian Space Agency successfully launched a solar science satellite today aboard the Tsyklon 3 rocket - their first such major science payload launch in four years.

The RSA's launch from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in north Russia occurred at 8:30 am EST or 13:30 GMT today. Forty-four minutes later, the Russian-built science payload left the Tsyklon 3 upper stage.

Known as the Coronas Photon, the satellite's three year mission will study the effects of solar activity around the earth's atmosphere from it's orbital outpost about 310 miles up, and inclined 82.5 degrees to the equator.

MOVIE: Cape Canaveral

Japan Successfully Launches Ozone Satellite

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency today successfully launched an H-IIA rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center - located on an island off of southern Japan.

The H-IIA carried a climate payload which Japan will use for measuring the earth's ozone layer. Known as the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT), the payload lifted-off at 12:54 pm local Japan time today (8:54 pm EST on Thursday evening) aboard the 174-foot tall H-IIA F15. This was the rocket's the 15th flight.

Sixteen minutes and one second later, the payload separated from the rocket's upper stage while over 8 degrees N, 132 degrees E. The upper stage then continued on and deployed seven separate smaller satellites as it flew a trajectory south and west over western Australia and south over the coast of Antarctica.

Inclement weather forced a two-hour launch delay. The rocket flew through clouds as it leapt from it's seaside launch pad.

 The H-IIA is a forerunner to the upcoming H-IIB rocket which will support important Japanese missions, including cargo transport to the international space station and to the Moon. A test flight of the new H-IIB is slated for this year.

A busy day aboard Discovery

The seven member crew of the 125th space shuttle flight spent this morning aboard Discovery running through a mock countdown as they finish their last day of practice here at the Kennedy Space Center.

Earlier they donned their launch and entry suits and took the astro van to launch complex 39-A - just as they will do in three weeks when they prepare for launch. Inside KSC's launch control room, they went through a countdown which concluded at just before 11 am, when the computer called for a cut-off at the T-:04 second point.

It was a very cold morning with temperatures in the mid-30's during this mock count. So much so that had this been an actual launch day, a few here at the KSC press site stated they would have scrubbed for the day due to launch rules pertaining to cold temperatures. [Freezing weather has a negative effect on certain rubber joints and seals which support the casings on the solid rocket boosters.]

Also this afternoon, the payload bay doors of Discovery were slowly closed for flight. The above image was recorded by NASA/ KSC moments prior to door closing, and show the Starboard Truss solar array segment which will generate more power for the international space station. Beginning in late-May, the station is scheduled to begin supporting long duration crews of six instead of the current three person rotation.

A flight readiness review by the entire NASA centers will occur on February 3. Currently launch of Discovery is scheduled for February 12th at 7:32 am EST.

Crew spends Inaugural Day conducting Pad Training

While a new presidential administration took over at noon today, the crew of the next space shuttle flight were to busy to stop and watch as they conducted launch pad emergency escape training.

Even under cold and windy conditions, the seven member crew of Discovery went to the 195-foot level of the launch pad 39-A and learned about the escape baskets which slide down a cable from the pad to the ground; the white room which is the room at the end of the orbiter access arm which connects to the crew hatch where the crew will don their helmets and ingress Discovery; and took time out for a few pictures and more.

Tomorrow, the crew will dress for a mock launch countdown and board Discovery. Later, they will head back to south Houston, Texas and the Johnson Space Center for the final three weeks of training prior to launch.

Discovery Crew at KSC; Pad Training Starts

The flight crew of Discovery - the next space shuttle flight known as STS-119 - arrived an hour early this morning as their jets touched down here at the Kennedy Space Center for three days of launch pad familiarization and training.

The seven person crew arrived at KSC's shuttle Landing Facility at 10:30 am EST, and in a short time will head to an area near Discovery's launch pad to begin emergency escape procedures - which include rides in the M-113 armored personnel carrier.

Discovery Crew heads to KSC Today

Discovery sits at Pad 39-A today at 7:50 am.

The seven member crew of the next space shuttle mission will arrive here at the Kennedy Space Center at just before noon today to spend three days of launch pad training prior to their February launch.

Led by mission commander Col. Lee Archambault, the crew of Discovery will spend Tuesday at the launch pad discussing and demonstrating emergency escape procedures. On Wednesday morning, they will don their orange partial pressure suits and climb aboard Discovery for a mock countdown.

The crew is expected to begin arriving in four T-38A trainer jets at KSC's shuttle landing facility at about 11:30 am EST.

 ++ We will have LIVE coverage beginning at 11:25 am of the crew arrival. ++

The crew is rounded out by pilot Tony Antonelli and mission specialists Joe Acaba, Richard Arnold, John Phillips, Steve Swanson and Koichi Wakata (Japan).

Discovery will carry the last huge set of solar arrays to the international space station beginning with her launch at 7:32 am EST, on February 12th.

Tonight's Delta IV-H Launch Image

United Launch Alliance has just released this image from tonight's launch. Liftoff occurred following a 2 hour, 14 minute delay from Cape Canaveral Air Station. Read our story below.

What a great image as you see the Delta's three liquid fueled boosters burning just two seconds following launch.

Delta IV-H Launches from the Cape Tonight

A United Space Alliance Delta IV-Heavy turned the night sky over Cape Canaveral into brief day light tonight as it pushed a military satellite into earth orbit.

The bright orange glaze over Cape Canaveral began as the Delta IV-H left her launch pad at 9:47 pm EST. Three liquid fueled boosters gave the 1.6 million pound gross vehicle the necessary lift.

Tonight's sucessful launch marked the 337th Delta rocket launch; and only the second operational Delta IV-H launch. The last occurred in November 2007.

The payload - a military satellite known as Orion - will work on station in geostationary orbit 22,300 miles above the equator. It will become operational following a few weeks of on-orbit check outs. This orbital altitude will allow for the satellite to stay at one fixed point as it orbits as the earth spins.

Orion was built by the National Reconnaissance Office and this flight was designated NROL-26.

Beginning now, the rest of the launch phase is in a military news blackout. We will never know if the Orion payload reached its intended orbit, however the main launch phase was nominal.

T-05 minutes and counting...

COUNTDOWN RESUMES: T-:05:00 minutes and counting. Standing by for the launch of the second operational Delta IV-H flight.

Delta Launch Delay

LAUNCH DELAY: T-05:00 minutes and Holding. Delay computer related. Launch no earlier than 7:55 pm ET.

WATCH THE LAUNCH LIVE HERE

T-5 minutes and holding...

7:12 pm - T-5:00 minutes and holding. All still go for 7:33 pm EST.

Delta IV-H Remains poised for Launch Tonight

Cape Canaveral Air Station, FL: Clocks are at T-0:35 minutes and counting as we await the launch of the United Space Alliance Delta IV-Heavy unmanned rocket here at Complex 37.

Launch remains set for 7:33 pm EST tonight.

The vehicle is fueled and the Cape is not working any issues currently.

Delta IV-H: Tonight's Launch Info

-- WATCH THE LAUNCH LIVE HERE --

beginning at 7:05 pm ET tonight

Tonight, a Delta IV-Heavy is set to lift-off on a military flight from Cape Canaveral. Here is the latest to follow the mission:

Liftoff: Tonight at 7:33 pm EST. Launch Window closes at 11:33 pm

Television: Click Here to Watch the Launch LIVE

Where: Cape Canaveral Air Station, Pad 37

Payload: NROL-26: Orion military satellite

Intended Orbit: GeoStationary [stay at a fixed point over a certain geographic area at the equator]

Flight: Second Delta IV-Heavy operational flight

This will make for a beautiful night, as the liquid fueled boosters light-up the clear night sky over Cape Canaveral. Stay tune for updates later today.

Trouble with a gaseous nitrogen (LN2) valve attached to ground equipment - not on the Delta - was the cause for two launch scrubs on Wednesday & Thursday.

Discovery Crew Training at KSC

The seven member crew for the next space shuttle flight are nearing the end of their training as their February 12th launch day inches closer and closer.

They have been in training for over a year to prepare for their flight to the international space station, traveling all over the United States and spending hundreds of hours in shuttle simulators and up in the air. 

On Thursday afternoon, Discovery's commander and pilot, Lee Archambault and Tony Antonelli, traveled to Edwards, AFB in California to practice landings in a Gulfstream II jet known as the Shuttle Trainer Aircraft. They will spend this morning making touch and go's on the two main runways in the California desert.

Joseph Acaba, John Phillips, Steve Swanson, Richard Arnold and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Koichi Wakata round out the crew of seven. 

Discovery's crew will travel late Sunday here to the Kennedy Space Center for three days of launch day training known as TCDT. This Wednesday, the crew will act as if it was launch day as they awake, dress in their orange partial pressure suits and climb aboard Discovery for the practice countdown.

Launch of Discovery on mission STS-119 is currently targeted for February 12th at 7:32 am EST.

Delta IV-H to Launch Saturday Night

The multi-delayed launch of the United Launch Alliance Delta IV heavy launcher is now being targeted for Saturday evening at 7:33 pm EST - the opening of a four-hour launch window.

Technicians have been working since Wednesday to repair a faulty nitrogen ground support valve, and need another day to support the repair job. Also, winds tonight and Friday were expected to be higher than launch limits support.

The Delta IV will take into geostationary orbit the huge United States' Orion military satellite.

SCRUB: Delta IV-H no-go Tonight

Delta IV-H SCRUB: Winds associated with a cold front, and the preexisting nitrogen valve issue has delayed tonight's launch until possibly Saturday evening. Stay tune for a new formal launch date.

Discovery STS-119 Rollout Images

A few great images we just received from KSC /NASA PAO this afternoon. Discovery arrived at her seaside launch pad 39-A at 12:15 PM EST today.

Discovery Heading for Launch Pad now

6:45 am today: Discovery rollout to Pad 39-A

The space shuttle Discovery stack is on the move from the vehicle assembly building to her seaside launch pad as NASA inches closer for her launch.

Rollout began at 5:17 am EST this morning, and the space shuttle should arrive at launch pad 39-A late this morning at about 12 noon.

The 3.5-mile journey from the VAB to Pad 39-A normally takes just over six hours to make the journey. Traveling at 1 mph, NASA's mobile launcher platform makes a slow trek so that little vibration is made.

Launch of Discovery is planned for 7:30 am EST on February 12th.

This Monday, the seven-member flight crew of Discovery will be here at Kennedy Space Center for the standard preflight dress rehearsal for prelaunch and launch day activities. Known as TCDT, the crew will arrive on Monday at KSC; and on Wednesday don their launch suits and climb aboard Discovery for a practice countdown.

Discovery mission STS-119 will deliver the final huge set of solar arrays to the international space station.

Delta IV-H to Launch Wednesday at 7:45 pm

Weather conditions are expected to be great as Cape Canaveral Air Station prepares for Wednesday evening's launch of a Delta IV-Heavy, on a multi-delayed military mission.

Delta IV-H with her military satellite, Orion, are scheduled for launch at 7:45:01 pm EST tomorrow night from Launch Complex 37 here at Cape Canaveral. This will mark the opening of a nearly four hour launch window.

++ SpaceLaunchNews will support LIVE launch coverage beginning at 7:25 pm ET, running thru to about 20 minutes post-launch. Look for the Launch Coverage link at Top of this page. ++

Damage to foam insulation and weather concerns delayed tonight's launch attempt until Wednesday. The foam was repaired early this morning, but needs a full day to harden prior to launch.

Delta IV-H Launch Delayed to Wednesday

This evening's launch of a Delta IV-Heavy ELV from Cape Canaveral Air Station has been delayed until early Wednesday evening.

Tonight's planned launch was just scrubbed minutes ago by Cape officials due to possible weather concerns. Liftoff had been planned for 7:49 pm EST tonight.

> SLN will provide LIVE Launch Coverage of tomorrow night's launch beginning 20 minutes prior to T-0. Stay tune.

Delta IV-H nears Tuesday Cape Launch

The launch of a Delta IV-H unmanned rocket from Cape Canaveral is firmly set for this Tuesday night on a classified department of defense flight.

Known as the Orion National Reconnaissance Office satellite 26, the payload is slated to lift-off between 7:01 pm and 11:59 pm EST, on January 13th. The DoD is keeping the exact launch time secret until early Tuesday morning for security reasons. However, a liftoff late in the 7 pm hour is most likely. 

Weather wise, winds near the 22 mph limit could delay the launch time. Rain or cloud levels are not expected to be an issue.

The first launch off the earth in 2009, the Delta IV-Heavy launcher will rise from Cape Canaveral Air Station Complex 37-B on a high inclination orbit. The 232-foot tall Delta will place Orion in geostationary orbit. This satellite will replace an older, not as tech savvy satellite currently on station.

We are working to provide live launch video of the mission. Stay tune.

Discovery attached to her Tank-Boosters Today

Here at the Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building, orbiter Discovery was mated to her external tank & boosters today to form the mission STS-119 shuttle stack.

Slated for rollout to launch pad 39-A early Wednesday morning, Discovery will spend the next few days running through attachment and wiring checks prior to rollout.

Discovery and her crew of seven will launch on February 12th to the international space station to attach the last solar array section, known as the starboard 6 truss. This will help support the increased permanent crew size this spring as station crews increase from three to six.

Of note: The STS-119 external tank and solid rocket boosters were to be used for the Hubble repair flight last Fall. However, when the flight was delayed, Atlantis was rolled back to the VAB and removed so that the set can used for Discovery.