Live At The Cape: First Stage Fueled For Launch

The first stage of a Delta II rocket at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station is being fueled for flight as countdown clocks tick toward a 4:34 a.m. launch.

Engineers are pumping RP-1 -- also known as Rocket Propellant 1 -- into the first stage. Combined with the oxidizer liquid oxygen, the propellants will power the Delta II's RS-27 first-stage engine.

The fuel-loading operation is expected to take about 20 minutes and should be complete before 2:30 a.m.

Engineers also are poised to start checkouts of the C-band radar that will be used to tracking the rocket as it arcs out over the Atlantic Ocean, carving a fiery trail through predawn skies.

The weather forecast remains 90 percent "go" for this morning's launch attempt. There's a slight chance that an offshore shower could pop up and move toward the launch complex. But conditions are expected to be acceptable for flight.