PHOTOS: ULA Ready to Launch NASA’s Next Tracking and Data Relay Satellite Tonight

Photo Credit: Alan Walters / AmericaSpace
Photo Credit: Alan Walters / AmericaSpace

The weather in Florida today is beautiful but chilly, and all systems are GO for United Launch Alliance to attempt launching NASA’s next Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-L, or TDRS-L, atop an Atlas-V rocket this evening from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

READ OUR IN-DEPTH TDRS-L LAUNCH & MISSION PREVIEW HERE!

Tonight’s launch attempt is scheduled for 9:05 p.m. EST, with the launch window extending to 9:45 p.m. EST. The weather forecast from the 45th Space Wing remains favorable for liftoff tonight, with temperatures in the mid-40s and the odds of acceptable conditions at 90 percent—near perfect for a launch with the only slight concerns being thick clouds associated with a limited increase in moisture in advance of the next cold front.

Keep up with the countdown and watch the launch LIVE via our Launch Tracker tonight!

 

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BELOW:  Photos from our face-to-face visit with the Atlas-V and TDRS-L at Space Launch Complex-41 Wednesday afternoon.  All photos © copyright 2014 Alan Walters and Mike Killian for AmericaSpace.  Additional images provided courtesy of United Launch Alliance.

 

Photo Credit: Alan Walters / AmericaSpace
Photo Credit: Alan Walters / AmericaSpace
Photo Credit: ULA
Photo Credit: ULA
Photo Credit: Alan Walters / AmericaSpace
Photo Credit: Alan Walters / AmericaSpace
Photo Credit: Alan Walters / AmericaSpace
Photo Credit: Alan Walters / AmericaSpace
Photo Credit: ULA
Photo Credit: ULA
Photo Credit: ULA
Photo Credit: ULA
Photo Credit: Mike Killian / AmericaSpace
Photo Credit: Mike Killian / AmericaSpace
Photo Credit: Mike Killian / AmericaSpace
Photo Credit: Mike Killian / AmericaSpace
Photo Credit: Alan Walters / AmericaSpace
Photo Credit: Alan Walters / AmericaSpace
Photo Credit: Mike Killian / AmericaSpace
Photo Credit: Mike Killian / AmericaSpace
Photo Credit: Mike Killian / AmericaSpace
Photo Credit: Mike Killian / AmericaSpace
Photo Credit: Mike Killian / AmericaSpace
Photo Credit: Mike Killian / AmericaSpace
Photo Credit: Alan Walters / AmericaSpace
Photo Credit: Alan Walters / AmericaSpace
Image Credit: ULA
Image Credit: ULA

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