United Launch Alliance technicians today continue to work on a valve problem that prevented fueling of a Delta 4 Heavy rocket Wednesday and scrubbed an evening launch attempt from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
ULA hopes to launch the rocket and its classified satellite at 7:41 p.m. today.
Today's forecast from the Air Force's 45th Space Wing shows a 70 percent chance of favorable conditions, with ground level winds a possible concern as a cold front moves through the area. You can read the forecast here.
The Flame Trench will webcast ULA's live launch broadcast starting about 25 minutes before liftoff.
We'll also send text message alerts on the status of the launch. Sign up here to receive those alerts on your cell phone.
The Delta 4 Heavy is carrying a secret payload for the National Reconnaissance Office.
On Wednesday, a problem arose with a gaseous nitrogen relief valve on a piece of ground support equipment.
The dry nitrogen is used to purge air from compartments during the rocket's fueling with super-cold liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen, to prevent condensation.
On Tuesday, minor damage to insulating foam on an access door between rocket stages required a repair, and weather conditions were poor.
Tonight's launch would be the first by an unmanned rocket from the Cape since last June, and only the third ever by a Delta 4 Heavy - the most powerful American unmanned launch vehicle.
IMAGE NOTE: Click on the image to enlarge it. On Wednesday, a United Launch Alliance Delta 4 Heavy rocket rested on its launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Launch Complex 37, shortly after its mobile service tower rolled away.
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