Atlas V Launch Delayed For Valve Analyses

The planned launch Tuesday of an Atlas V rocket and a military communications satellite is being delayed at least three days to give engineers more time to analyze valve trouble that forced a launch scrub earlier this month.

The 192-foot-tall Atlas V and its payload -- a Wideband Global SATCOM spacecraft -- now is slated to fly no earlier than Friday night. The launch window that night would extend from 8:31 p.m. to 9:33 p.m.

The satellite-delivery mission had been scheduled to blast off March 17, but a launch attempt was scrubbed when a liquid oxygen valve in the rocket's Centaur upper stage leaked during propellant-loading operations.

Launch services contractor United Launch Alliance swapped out the suspect valve and engineers have been analyzing the situation.

Air Force officials said in a statement that the three-day slip would give engineers and managers time needed to make certain the mission will be successful.