Live at the Cape: Atlas set for 5:03 p.m. launch

Just across the Banana River from our blockhouse here at the Kennedy Space Center, a powerful Atlas rocket is being readied for an early evening launch on a mission to deliver a classified National Reconnaissance Office payload to orbit.

Now peeking up over the launch umbilical tower on its mobile launcher platform, the 19-story rocket is slated to blast off at 5:03 p.m. EST from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

The exact launch window is classified, but a launch danger zone off the coast of Cape Canaveral will reopen to mariners at 7 p.m. EST.

The rocket was rolled out to the launch pad Sunday after NASA scrubbed the planned launch of Atlantis from nearby launch pad 39A (the pad just north of complex 41). Surrounding it are four towering lightning protection masts.

The image below (click to enlarge it) is an absolutely awesome shot of the Atlas 5 bathed in floodlights at the oceanside launch pad last night. Thanks to United Launch Alliance and photographer Karl Ronstrom for passing it along.

The image above also was taken last night by Ronstrom.














The weather forecast for tonight's twilight launch attempt is really good. Meteorologists say there is an 80 percent chance that conditions will be acceptable for launch.

You can check out the details in the official forecast from the 45th Space Wing Weather Squadron here: AtlasForecast.pdf.

The Air Force is asking mariners and pilots to stay clear of the launch danger zone off the coast and restricted airspace around the Cape. The planned launch tonight would have to be delayed -- or scrubbed -- of mariners or pilots were to stray into the restricted areas, potentially costing taxpayers a significant amount of money. Stiff penalties and even jail time can be levied against violators.

You can check out a map of the Launch Hazard Area off the coast here: AtlasDangerZone.doc.

A map showing restricted airspace is here: AtlasRestrictedAirspace.doc.

A launch tonight would be the 12th this year for United Launch Alliance, a joint partnership of Lockheed Martin and Boeing that marries the venerable Atlas and Delta rocket families.

The last schedule launch of the year at the Cape will be the planned Dec. 20 launch of a ULA Delta 2 rocket with a Navstar Global Positioning System spacecraft from complex 17 at the air station.