And It Doesn't Look Good For Wednesday

Issues ranging from communications glitches to missing aircraft have plagued previously scheduled launches of the CloudSat and CALIPSO satellites... and now, a good old-fashioned weather delay has scrapped Tuesday's planned launch of the Delta II rocket that will carry both probes into orbit.

Strong upper level winds exceeding launch weather criteria scrubbed Tuesday's launch, NASA reported on its website. Launch manager Chuck Dovale has directed his team to reset the launch systems and prepare for another opportunity to launch the mission Wednesday.

The next launch attempt is tentatively set for Wednesday, April 26, at 6:02 am EDT... but weather is a concern for that launch attempt, as well, as the forecast calls for only a 40 percent probability of acceptable weather conditions. The primary concerns are for thick clouds, higher than allowable winds, rain showers and isolated thunderstorms.

Since last week, the launch of the mission has been delayed four times -- once by a communications problem, twice by a missing refueling plane and, now, by weather.

FMI: www.nasa.gov