BY JUSTIN RAY

Follow the countdown and launch of the Lockheed Martin Athena rocket on the Kodiak Star mission for NASA and U.S. Air Force. Reload this page for the very latest on the mission.

0500 GMT (1:00 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 2 hour, 20 minutes. The NASA-sponsored Starshine 3 has been deployed. Signals from the disco ball-like spacecraft have been received in Antarctica, confirming the satellite was released from the Athena rocket.

The student-built Starshine 3 satellite is covered with 1,500 aluminum mirrors, the highly reflective sphere will be seen flying overhead with the naked eye, allowing schoolchildren around the world to track the satellite.

So the Kodiak Star mission of the Lockheed Martin Athena 1 rocket has been completed with all four satellite payloads successfully deployed into Earth orbit!

This concludes our live launch coverage.

0450 GMT (12:50 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 2 hour, 10 minutes. The Athena rocket remains out of range from any ground tracking station. However, the Starshine spacecraft should have deployed from the vehicle by this time. Confirmation of release could occur by a man in Antarctica who is standing outside waiting to hear the satellite pass overhead. If that contact fails, then officials will have to wait until the Malindi station acquires signal a little later.

0421 GMT (12:21 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 1 hour, 41 minutes. The pass over Kodiak has confirmed the deployment of PCSat. So all three Air Force-sponsored payloads of Kodiak Star have been released into space from the Athena rocket.

The Prototype Communications Satellite, or PCSat, is the first in a planned series of small spacecraft designed, built and tested by midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy. The craft will be used to relay position data from amateur radio operators to ground stations.

Lockheed Martin also confirmed that the orbit achieved is nominal with an altitude of 436 nautical miles and inclination of 67 degrees to the equator.

The upper stage will now perform a retrograde maneuver to lower the orbit in preparation for deployment of Starshine 3, which is expected at T+plus 2 hours and 8 minutes.

0419 GMT (12:19 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 99 minutes. Again right on schedule, the next tracking station has picked up the Athena rocket. This time it is the Kodiak site as the vehicle completes one orbit.

0410 GMT (12:10 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 90 minutes. The Athena upper stage and what should be the three deployed Air Force satellites are expected to come in range of the Kodiak tracking site in about 10 minutes after completing one full orbit of Earth. This communications pass will allow officials to confirm that PCSat has indeed separated from the rocket.

0358 GMT (11:58 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 78 minutes. NASA Launch Manager Chuck Dovale reports everything is going well, the rocket appears to have performed properly and deployment of two of the four satellites can be confirmed.

To clarify the confusion over Sapphire's deployment, NASA now says that the satellite itself had been acquired by the ground, confirming its deployment.

0352 GMT (11:52 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 72 minutes. Contrary to NASA's earlier report that deployment confirmation of the other Air Force satellites would be delayed until passage of Kodiak, word has been received that Sapphire deployed from the Athena rocket. But officials will have to wait on PCSat confirmation until the pass over Kodiak.

Sapphire, built by Stanford University, carries a couple of experiments and a voice synthesizer microchip designed to convert text messages into a human voice for transmission over amateur radio frequencies.

0351 GMT (11:51 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 71 minutes. The launch team, based on examination of the data from a little while ago via the Malindi site, can now confirm the PICOSat was released from the Athena rocket.

0347 GMT (11:47 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 67 minutes. NASA reports the rocket has passed out of range from the Malindi tracking station. This means that deployment of the Air Force-sponsored satellites won't be confirmed until the spacecraft pass over the next tracking station at T+plus 99 minutes. That site is Kodiak.

0344 GMT (11:44 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 64 minutes. The command has been issued to deploy PICOSat. It will be a couple minutes to confirm the spacecraft has been released successfully, marking the first of four deployments of the Kodiak Star mission. This will be followed by Sapphire and PCSat. Starshine 3 won't be released until T+plus 2 hours, 8 minutes.

PICOSat, built by Surrey Satellite Technology in the U.K., features four onboard experiments including tests of a flexible polymer battery, using GPS to study the ionospheric impacts to communications and navigation signals and vibration control for satellite sensors.

0340 GMT (11:40 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 60 minutes. The Malindi site has acquired signal of the Athena rocket right on schedule.

0330 GMT (11:30 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 50 minutes. In about 10 minutes a tracking station at Malindi, Kenya on the east-central coast of Africa should lock on to the signal from Athena's upper stage. The site will continue to follow the rocket across the sky, providing data as the PICOSat, Sapphire and PCSat satellites are deployed from the payload deck. You can read more about the satellites in the mission preview.

0258 GMT (10:58 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 18 minutes. With the rocket out of range from any ground tracking station, there is really nothing more to add at this point. The next live telemetry pass is expected at T+plus 59 minutes through a station in Keyna, which will provide updates during deployment of the three Air Force satellites.

0254 GMT (10:54 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 14 minutes, 40 seconds. The Vandenberg data indicated the rocket was speeding along at 25,439 feet per second, which Lockheed Martin reported was a good orbital velocity. The rocket has now passed out of range of the Vandenberg site.

0251 GMT (10:51 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 11 minutes. The tracking station at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California has picked up the rocket's signal as it heads southward, paralleling the U.S. West Coast.

0248 GMT (10:48 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 8 minutes. Official liftoff time was 0240:02 GMT (10:40:02 p.m. EDT).

0247 GMT (10:47 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 7 minutes, 45 seconds. The Cordova downrange tracking station has lost contact with the Athena rocket as expected as the vehicle travels beyond the site's coverage area.

0246 GMT (10:46 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 6 minutes, 30 seconds. The third stage -- the Orbit Adjust Module -- is firing to achieve an orbit around Earth. This stage burns liquid hydrazine fuel.

0245 GMT (10:45 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 5 minutes, 45 seconds. The Orbus 21D solid-fueled second stage has burned out and separated. And the third stage has ignited.

0244 GMT (10:44 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 4 minutes. The Athena's second stage continues to fire. This burn will last for another 90 seconds.

0243 GMT (10:43 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 3 minutes, 10 seconds. The rocket's payload fairing and spent first stage have separated. Ignition of the second stage is now confirmed.

0242 GMT (10:42 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 2 minutes. Lockheed Martin reports good data so far.

0241 GMT (10:41 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 95 seconds. The first stage Castor 120 solid-fueled motor has burned out as planned. The Athena is now in a ballistic coast period for the next 90 seconds.

0241 GMT (10:41 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 60 seconds.

0240 GMT (10:40 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 30 seconds. Athena has darted into the clear evening sky in Alaska. Vehicle nearing maximum dynamic pressure.

0240 GMT (10:40 p.m. EDT)

LIFTOFF! Kodiak Star rises aboard the Lockheed Martin Athena rocket as the vehicle clears the tower!

0239 GMT (10:39 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 30 seconds. The rocket's steering system is being activated. The first stage nozzle will be gimbaled to verify good mobility.

0239 GMT (10:39 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 1 minute. Auto sequence start. The countdown is now under computer control for the final 60 seconds to liftoff.

0238 GMT (10:38 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 2 minutes. Range has announced final "go" for launch.

0237 GMT (10:37 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 2 minutes, 50 seconds. NASA has voiced its clearance to launch. Lockheed Martin launch director then gave the final "go" to continue the countdown.

0236 GMT (10:36 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 3 minutes, 20 seconds. The Lockheed Martin launch conductor has verified the Athena rocket is "go" for launch.

0233 GMT (10:33 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 6 minutes, 30 seconds. The final readiness poll of the NASA launch team has been completed and the space agency confirms it is ready to proceed.

0232 GMT (10:32 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 8 minutes and counting.

0230 GMT (10:30 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 10 minutes and counting. No problems are being reported in these final minutes as the launch team readies the rocket for liftoff.

0229 GMT (10:29 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 11 minutes and counting. The rocket's flight termination system has armed and final checks reported good.

0226 GMT (10:26 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 14 minutes and counting. RF link checks are starting. Also, a steering check of the second stage motor nozzle is underway.

0225 GMT (10:25 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 15 minutes and counting. The S-band data transmitter and the C-band tracking beacon on the rocket are being activated.

0224 GMT (10:24 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 16 minutes and counting. The Athena rocket is now switching from ground-fed electrical power to internal battery power for launch.

0220 GMT (10:20 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 20 minutes and counting! The countdown has picked for launch at 0240 GMT (10:40 p.m. EDT). The solar weather appears as though it will finally cooperate. No further holds are anticipated unless something else comes up.

0219 GMT (10:19 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 20 minutes and holding. The Range is now clear. That boat has moved out of the restricted waters. Countdown will resume in one minute.

0216 GMT (10:16 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 20 minutes and holding. The Lockheed Martin readiness polls of the launch team and managers have been completed. And the report is everyone is "go" for the new launch time of 0240 GMT!

0214 GMT (10:14 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 20 minutes and holding. The countdown is now scheduled to resume at 0220 GMT (10:20 p.m. EDT) for a liftoff at 0240 GMT (10:40 p.m. EDT).

0212 GMT (10:12 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 20 minutes and holding. NASA Launch Manager Chuck Dovale has polled his team to verify everyone is ready to put the Athena rocket is on internal power once the countdown resumes.

0210 GMT (10:10 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 20 minutes and holding. The countdown has been stopped for the second time this evening to await acceptable space weather conditions -- specifically the level of charged proton particles that can disrupt the rocket's guidance system during launch. The proton level has been high since a masive solar flare erupted from the Sun on Monday.

It is now expected that the proton level will be "go" in 15 to 20 minutes.

0208 GMT (10:08 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 22 minutes and counting. Launch Weather Officer Jim Sardonia has just announced he is "no go" for solar weather at this time. So the countdown will be holding in two minutes.

0206 GMT (10:06 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 24 minutes and counting. There has been a boat found inside the launch danger area, which is just off the coast of Narrow Cape where the pad is located. However, it is moving in a direction to clear the restricted zone.

0204 GMT (10:04 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 26 minutes and counting. Officials are discussing holding the countdown at T-minus 20 minutes for a period of 10 to 15 minutes. This would give a bit more time for the solar weather to come within limits. The launch weather officer is not quite ready to commit to a "go" for a 0230 GMT liftoff.

0200 GMT (10:00 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 30 minutes and counting. Final alignment of the Athena's inertial measurement unit guidance computer is now being completed.

0150 GMT (9:50 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 40 minutes and counting. Countdown clocks at the Kodiak Launch Complex are ticking to the planned 0230 GMT (10:30 p.m. EDT) liftoff of the Lockheed Martin Athena 1 rocket carrying four small satellites for NASA and the U.S. Air Force.

This will be a two-hour and 8-minute flight from liftoff through deployment of the final spacecraft from the rocket. Athena will ascend into a 500-mile orbit where the Air Force-sponsored PICOSat, PCSat and Sapphire satellites will be released. The rocket's upper stage will then lower its orbit to about 300 miles where the NASA-sponsored Starshine 3 will separate in fly on its own.

0140 GMT (9:40 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 50 minutes and counting! The countdown has resumed for tonight's rescheduled 0230 GMT (10:30 p.m. EDT) from Kodiak Island, Alaska. Although the solar weather is still out of limits at the moment, it is believed conditions will be "go" by liftoff time.

With the countdown running again, the launch team will now focus on the final pre-flight alignment of the rocket's guidance computer.

0131 GMT (9:31 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 50 minutes and holding. Launch Weather Officer Jim Sardonia reports that solar weather conditions will be "go" for launch from 0230 to 0315 GMT (10:30 to 11:15 p.m. EDT).

This forecast is based upon data from the GOES-8 weather satellite orbiting Earth and NASA's ACE probe located a million miles away, which sees what the proton level will be a couple hours before it hits our planet.

The ACE spacecraft, however, does show a peak in the proton level that would be out of Athena's limit from 0315 GMT through the end of the window.

So with that, the countdown will pick up at 0140 GMT for liftoff at 0230 GMT.

0120 GMT (9:20 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 50 minutes and holding. Here is the game plan as it stands now. Launch Weather Officer Jim Sardonia will be giving an updated status on the proton level in about 10 minutes. If conditions have subsided enough, then the countdown will resume at 0140 GMT for a liftoff at 0230 GMT (10:30 p.m. EDT).

But if the proton flux is still out of limits, then the countdown will continue to hold at T-minus 50 minutes.

0100 GMT (9:00 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 50 minutes and holding. Still no word on a new target launch time. Officials are simply waiting for a firm idea when the proton level will be within Athena's threshold for a safe launch.

0040 GMT (8:40 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 50 minutes and holding. The countdown has been stopped because the charged proton level remains slightly out of limits. Launch Weather Officer Jim Sardonia says he believes conditions will be "go" for liftoff by around 0200 GMT (10 p.m. EDT). Tonight's window extends to 0430 GMT (12:30 a.m. EDT).

The ground weather looks favorable tonight. The launch forecast calls for scattered clouds at 4,500 and 6,000 feet, visibility of 7 miles, northwesterly winds from 330 degrees at 8 to 12 knots and a maximum temperature of 56 degrees F. The only possible threat from ground weather is the clouds becoming broken and constituting a ceiling below 5,000 feet.

The upper level winds have been verified acceptable.

0038 GMT (8:38 p.m. EDT)

The countdown clock will hold at T-minus 50 minutes due to the solar weather.

0030 GMT (8:30 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 60 minutes and counting. The final checks are being performed on the flight termination system, which would be used to destroy the rocket should it malfunction during launch.

0000 GMT (8:00 p.m. EDT)

Good evening and welcome to our live coverage of this second full attempt to launch the Lockheed Martin Athena 1 rocket on the Kodiak Star mission.

The problem with the C-band tracking radar has been resolved this evening, NASA reports, as the countdown continues on schedule for liftoff at 5:30 p.m. Alaska Time (9:30 p.m. EDT; 0130 GMT Sunday).

However, the solar weather remains "no go" at this time. But there remains hope that the proton level will fall to within the acceptable limit about one hour into tonight's three-hour window.

Over the past couple of hours the launch team has been busy conducting radar and telemetry link checks between the tracking sites at Kodiak and downrange locations with the Athena vehicle, arming the rocket's ordnance, configuring the flight termination system for activation and completing the Range hold-fire checks.

The countdown is now passing the T-minus 90 minute mark. It is expected that the count will hold prior to the T-minus 51 minute point, which is when the rocket's inertial measurement unit guidance computer is aligned for flight. That alignment will be delayed until it is clear when the proton level will permit a liftoff.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2001
2115 GMT (5:15 p.m. EDT)

Just like last Saturday, the C-band tracking radar in Cordova, Alaska is displaying faulty measurement readings. The radar, which is required to track the Athena rocket as it heads downrange, was repaired and successfully retested last Sunday. But as the system was activated this afternoon technicians discovered a repeat of last Saturday's problem.

Troubleshooting is underway to determine what is causing the glitch. One theory being discussed it the possibility of interference with the radar signal, NASA spokesman George Diller said.

Meanwhile, the "proton flux" level remains out of limits. However, there is some chance it could be within acceptable range by the end of tonight's three-hour launch window.

Overall, there is a 60 percent chance the proton level and cloud ceilings will prohibit launch tonight.

2030 GMT (4:30 p.m. EDT)

The final hours of the countdown are ticking off at the Kodiak Launch Complex in Alaska for this evening's planned attempt to get the Athena rocket airborne. Liftoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Alaska Time (9:30 p.m. EDT; 0130 GMT Sunday), the opening of a three-hour window.

The ground weather remains promising, however, the space weather is still a major concern. But officials hope the proton level will drop sufficiently to permit liftoff by the end of tonight's window.

Earlier today the 170-foot tall rotating service tower was moved away from the Athena, exposing the rocket on the launch pad. The tower provides a heated environment wherein the vehicle is stacked, tested and readied for flight.

We will begin our play-by-play coverage at 8 p.m. EDT (0000 GMT).

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2001
0200 GMT (10:00 p.m. EDT Thurs.)

The Lockheed Martin Athena rocket is going to make another launch attempt on Saturday evening despite an iffy chance that the space weather conditions will cooperate. Officials believe it will be the last best shot at liftoff for the near future from Kodiak Island in Alaska.

"We are going to take a run at Saturday. It's the only good shot we got," NASA spokesman George Diller said Thursday evening after senior managers approved the reschedule date.

Saturday's adjusted launch window for the Kodiak Star mission extends from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Alaska Time (9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. EDT; 0130-0430 GMT Sunday).

Launch Weather Officer Jim Sardonia says there is a 60 percent chance the high level of proton particles from this week's solar storm still will be above the limit that Athena's guidance system can safely handle. Cloud ceilings below 5,000 feet are also a concern.

Space weather experts say the "proton flux" continues to subside and should be within Athena's acceptable range late Saturday or early Sunday. With the launch window moved a half-hour later in the day and extended an extra hour, officials are making every effort to get the rocket and its four satellite payloads off the ground.

But in the end it'll be a matter of whether the proton level drops far enough and fast enough to allow Athena to fly.

And there is good reason to be concerned about prospects for future launch opportunities. Another low pressure weather system is expected to sweep into the region on Sunday, bringing low clouds, rain and gusty winds. Sardonia says there is an 80 percent chance of weather prohibiting launch on Sunday and a 70 percent chance on Monday. There is not yet an official forecast for Tuesday or beyond.

The weather begins to deteriorate significantly by early October in Alaska, which means the odds are beginning to stack up against launching rockets from Kodiak Island by this time of the year. Historically, there's a new weather system that moves through every three days, and the weather team expects on average only two days per week will have favorable conditions for liftoff.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2001
0200 GMT (10:00 p.m. EDT Wed.)

The weather -- both Earthly and solar -- continues to plague the planned launch of a Lockheed Martin Athena rocket carrying a quartet of small satellites for NASA and the Air Force. Officials said late Wednesday that the next launch attempt won't occur until at least Saturday.

The level of charged proton particles skyrocketed from Monday's giant solar flare and remains well above the limit that Athena's electronics can safely handle during launch.

The so-called "proton flux" peaked Tuesday night and steadily declined Wednesday. At this rate, scientists expect the proton level to reach the Athena's limit sometime very late Saturday or early Sunday.

Although mission managers have not formally rescheduled the Athena liftoff, Saturday and Sunday are being eyed for possible launch attempts.

Forecasters say there is a 65 percent chance the proton level still will be "no go" for launch during Saturday's approximate two-hour window opening at 5:30 p.m. Alaska Time (9:30 p.m. EDT; 0130 GMT Sunday). The ground weather conditions at the Kodiak Launch Complex are expected to be favorable on Saturday.

For Sunday night's launch window the situation flips. The proton level is predicted to be "go" but there is another weather system headed for Kodiak that will likely bring unacceptable clouds and showers to the launch site on Sunday.

Officials will hold another meeting at 5 p.m. Alaska Time on Thursday to review the situation and possibly establish a new target launch date.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2001
0115 GMT (9:15 p.m. EDT Mon.)

The massive solar storm that began with an early morning eruption on the sun continued to intensify throughout the day on Monday, leading Athena launch officials to postpone the Kodiak Star mission until at least Thursday night.

The Athena rocket isn't allowed to fly during such storms because the level of charged particles can wreak havoc with its guidance system.

Now considered to be one of the largest storms of this solar cycle, managers said the storm had yet to peak by late Monday, dashing any hopes of launching Tuesday or Wednesday.

It takes about 3.5 days from the peak of such a powerful storm for the proton flux to drop to the safe limit for Athena, scientists said citing historical data.

Although Lockheed Martin and NASA are targeting liftoff on Thursday evening, a further slip to Friday is possible.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2001

SCRUB. Tonight's launch of the Athena rocket has been postponed after a massive solar flare erupted from the sun earlier today, unleashing a powerful space storm that could disrupt the rocket's guidance computer during flight. Officials had no choice but to delay the Kodiak Star mission yet again.

"The proton flux is three times that is allowable for launch," NASA spokesman George Diller said. "The concern is it would cause a data upset in the rocket's guidance system."

The flare occurred at 1038 GMT (6:38 a.m. EDT) today. A coronal mass ejection is headed for Earth, likely causing geomagnetic storms, space weather scientists announced.

Liftoff has been tentatively rescheduled for Tuesday if the proton level decreases. But scientists say it could be Wednesday or Thursday before conditions are again acceptable for launch. Mission managers are working on a longer launch window for upcoming attempts that would extend from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Alaska Time (9:30 p.m. to 12 a.m. EDT; 0130-0400 GMT).

The launch weather forecast for Tuesday calls for an 80 percent chance of meeting the liftoff rules in Alaska. The forecast worsens to less than 50-50 on Wednesday.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2001

With a troublesome tracking radar now working, a Lockheed Martin Athena rocket will make a third try at launching from Alaska on Monday evening, but bad weather could again spoil liftoff plans.

Officials announced late today that Monday's target launch time will be 5:30 p.m. Alaska Time (9:30 p.m. EDT; 0130 GMT Tuesday). The duration of the launch window will be set on Monday morning.

However, there is just a 30 percent chance of weather permitting the rocket to blast off Monday because of clouds and rain. The forecast is much improved for Tuesday, should the mission slip again.

Lousy weather forced Friday's countdown to be called off hours before launch time. Weather conditions were perfect on Saturday only to have a technical glitch with a downrange tracking radar cause a scrub. The launch team took Sunday off.

Lockheed Martin says the radar problem has now been resolved. Technicians have successfully replaced a suspect encoder on the radar and retested the system, which is needed to track the Athena rocket as it travels downrange.

We will provide complete live play-by-play reports throughout the countdown and launch. Watch this page!

1500 GMT (11:00 a.m. EDT)

The decision has been made to wait until Monday before making another launch attempt.

0405 GMT (12:05 a.m. EDT)

There is unconfirmed word from Kodiak Island that officials have decided to forego another launch attempt on Sunday night. Instead, the launch team will shoot for Monday night to make the next try in getting Athena airborne.

We'll update this page in the morning with confirmation of launch plans.

0231 GMT (10:31 p.m. EDT)

SCRUB! Tonight's launch attempt of the Lockheed Martin Athena 1 rocket with the Kodiak Star mission has been scrubbed because the range radar needed to track the vehicle could not be fixed before the close of the window at 0300 GMT.

The radar, which has been down all evening, must be operating properly for the rocket to be cleared for launch. Located in Cordova, Alaska, the radar is used to track the rocket's flight azimuth as the vehicle travels downrange. Engineers troubleshooting the situation traced the problem to an encoder on the C-band radar, but repair efforts so far have been fruitless.

A new launch date has not been established. Another try could be made on Sunday evening, but it isn't known how long it might take to fix the radar problem.

Unlike the perfect weather conditions tonight at the Kodiak Island launch site, the forecast for Sunday is not promising. There is an 80 percent chance of conditions prohibiting launch as a weather system moves into the area, bringing clouds and rain. The forecast for Monday is 70 percent "no go" for launch.

Launch Weather Officer Jim Sardonia's forecast for Sunday's window of 9 to 11 p.m. EDT (0100 to 0300 GMT Monday) calls for broken clouds at 500 feet, overcast conditions 1,000 feet, visibility of one to two miles, southeasterly winds from 140 degrees at 15 gusting to 26 knots, a temperature of 47 to 49 degrees F, relative humidity of 95 to 100 percent and moderate rainshowers at the launch site.

The launch weather rules that are threatened for violation are cloud ceilings below 5,000 feet, visibility less than two miles, rain and even cloud thickness.

Monday night's forecast isn't much better and has the same weather concerns.

The launch time forecast calls for broken clouds at 800 feet, overcast conditions 2,000 feet, visibility of two to four miles, northerly winds from 030 degrees at 14 gusting to 20 knots, a temperature of 47 to 49 degrees F, relative humidity of 95 to 100 percent and scattered rainshowers at the launch site.

We'll update this page as soon as more information is available on launch rescheduling plans.

0230 GMT (10:30 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 20 minutes and holding. With time running out, it appears a scrub is expected shortly.

0220 GMT (10:20 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 20 minutes and holding. The range remains "no go" for launch due to the troubles with the C-band tracking radar in Cordova, Alaska. There is a cable being replaced for the suspect radar encoder, which NASA says is the best hope in getting the encoder working to support a launch attempt tonight. If the encoder itself has to be replaced, then the launch would have to be postponed for at least a day.

The countdown must resume by 0240 GMT -- 20 minutes from now -- in order to launch by the close of tonight's available window. If Athena doesn't lift off by 0300 GMT, then this launch attempt will have to be called off.

0200 GMT (10:00 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 20 minutes and holding. There is now one hour remaining in tonight's launch window. Still no further word on the range radar. Work continues to determine if the encoder can be fixed or will have to replaced.

0140 GMT (9:40 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 20 minutes and holding. Officials have verified that it won't be possible to extend tonight's launch window beyond the advertised 0300 GMT (11 p.m. EDT) closure time. There is no science or payload requirement that drives the two-hour window, rather was a period picked to allow the launch day activities including retraction of the launch pad mobile service tower to occur in daylight. The late afternoon (local time) window was also desired by the FAA due to flight patterns near Kodiak.

Officials say the window can't be extended because there is just too much work that would have to be done. And the warnings to aviators and mariners are for a two-hour window.

0130 GMT (9:30 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 20 minutes and holding. There is nothing new to report at this point. The range remains "no go" for launch due to the downrange tracking radar. Troubleshooting work is continuing. The launch team has not established a new target liftoff time. Tonight's launch window extends to 0300 GMT (11 p.m. EDT).

Officials would really like to see the launch occur tonight since the weather is expected to significantly worsen by tomorrow's launch window.

0110 GMT (9:10 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 20 minutes and holding. The encoder of the C-band range radar in Cordova, Alaska, is the problem. NASA says the encoder is "not behaving properly" and officials are not comfortable proceeding the with launch in the current situation. The radar is used to track the Athena rocket as it heads downrange, specifically telling the range the vehicle's flight azimuth.

Efforts are underway to determine whether the encoder will have to be replaced, or how best to fix this problem. It is not known whether the trouble can be resolved within tonight's launch window that extends to 0300 GMT.

At this point, there is no estimation on when a decision might be made on the fate of this launch attempt.

0100 GMT (9:00 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 20 minutes and holding. The countdown has been stopped again while the range radar state of health is discussed, NASA reports. There is no estimation how long this unplanned hold will last.

0058 GMT (8:58 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 22 minutes and counting. We are awaiting word if the countdown will be held again. It is unclear if the Cordova radar problem has been fixed. The range had just reported their assets were all ready except for the radar. However, NASA has been saying the range is completely ready.

0045 GMT (8:45 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 35 minutes and counting. Launch Weather Officer Jim Sardonia just provided another weather update for mission officials. There is less than a 10 percent chance of not meeting the launch weather rules tonight.

The launch time forecast calls for scattered clouds at 4,000 and 8,000 feet, visibility of 10 miles or better, northerly winds from 015 degrees at 5 to 8 knots, a temperature of 55 to 57 degrees F and relative humidity of 60 percent.

The upper level winds are also acceptable.

Should the launch slip 24 hours, there is another weather system moving into the area and there is an 80 percent chance of unacceptable conditions. The weather on Monday is predicted to be 70 percent "no go" for launch.

0042 GMT (8:42 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 38 minutes and counting. The launch team has now begun the alignment of Athena's Inertial Measurement Unit guidance system.

0040 GMT (8:40 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 40 minutes and counting. The countdown has resumed for a possible liftoff at 0120 GMT. The clock can hold again at T-minus 20 minutes if the range radar remains down.

0035 GMT (8:35 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 40 minutes and holding. The countdown continues to hold.

There are four COLA cutouts of the tonight's two-hour launch window in which the rocket can't liftoff because it would pass too close to objects already orbiting the Earth. Those Collision Avoidance periods are 0130 to 0131 GMT; 0159 to 0203 GMT; 0207 to 0209 GMT; and 0258 to 0259 GMT.

0020 GMT (8:20 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 40 minutes and holding. The countdown has entered an unplanned 20-minute hold due to an ongoing problem with a required range tracking radar. The problem is related to the C-band radar's ability to track the rocket's flight azimuth, NASA says. This hold will allow troubleshooting to continue on the radar while countdown activities are paused. Once the count resumes the vehicle's guidance computer will be aligned for the final time.

Liftoff has been pushed back to no sooner than 0120 GMT (9:20 p.m. EDT). Tonight's window extends to 0300 GMT (11:00 p.m. EDT).

0015 GMT (8:15 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 45 minutes and counting. A decision has been made to hold the countdown clock at the T-minus 40-minute mark for 20 minutes. That means today's liftoff time will be pushed back 20 minutes to 0120 GMT (9:20 p.m. EDT).

Officials ordered this unplanned hold to give the range more time to work the tracking radar problem. Once the countdown passes T-minus 40 minutes the launch team is supposed to perform the final alignment of the Athena rocket's Inertial Measurement Unit guidance computer.

0004 GMT (8:04 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 56 minutes and counting. The final checks have been completed of the flight termination system, which would be used to destroy the rocket should it malfunction during launch. No problems were reported during the checks.

0000 GMT (8:00 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 1 hour and counting. The troubleshooting work continues with the tracking radar at Cordova, Alaska. The Range remains down, however, NASA says there may be a bit of positive progress being made in fixing the problem.

2350 GMT (7:50 p.m. EDT)

Tonight is the culmination of a four-day countdown process, one day longer than originally planned since Friday's launch attempt was scrubbed due to bad weather.

Activities got underway at 1615 GMT today with a weather briefing given to management to determine if it was safe to retract the mobile service tower from around the rocket. The tower rollback was completed shortly after 1700 GMT. Workers then proceeded with RF link checks, preparing the launch control van and evacuation of the launch pad.

At about 2155 GMT, Athena was powered up for flight. System checks then began.

The next major event in the countdown will be the final checks of the flight termination system at T-minus 1 hour.

2335 GMT (7:35 p.m. EDT)

The C-band tracking radar that is currently down is located in Cordova, Alaska, northeast of the launch site. (Cordova is marked on the ground track map.) The radar is a mandatory piece of equipment for this launch since it tracks the rocket as it heads downrange. Engineers suspect the large amounts of rain from the storms over the past couple of days could be to blame.

The countdown will continue in hopes the problem can be resolved to allow an on-time launch. However, the count will be held at around T-minus 18 minutes if the radar remains down.

2330 GMT (7:30 p.m. EDT)

Good evening. We begin our live coverage of Kodiak Star at this time as the countdown enters the final 90 minutes to launch of the Athena rocket. The launch team has been on station since T-minus 5 hours at the Kodiak Launch Complex located at Narrow Cape on Kodiak Island, Alaska.

The weather continues to improve at the launch site with less than a 10 percent chance of conditions not meeting the launch rules tonight.

There is one problem being worked -- a C-band radar used to track the rocket as it travels downrange. The radar is required to support tonight's launch. Efforts are underway to get the radar working again so the launch can go off either on-time at 0100 GMT or at some point during tonight's two-hour launch window.

1655 GMT (12:55 p.m. EDT)

What a difference a day makes. After horrible weather conditions yesterday that gave absolutely no hope of launching the Lockheed Martin Athena rocket from Kodiak Island, Alaska, the sun is popping out of the clouds today and the forecast is promising for blastoff.

Today's launch window extends from 5 to 7 p.m. Alaska time (9 to 11 p.m. EDT; 0100-0300 GMT Sunday).

Launch Weather Officer Jim Sardonia says there is an 80 percent chance of good conditions. The only concern is cloud ceilings below 5,000 feet.

On Friday a low pressure system swept across the launch site, bringing clouds, rain and high winds. At launch time there was a driving rain, cloud ceiling at 200 feet and winds gusting to 24 knots, NASA spokesman George Diller said.

Officials called off the launch attempt early in the day before even retracting the mobile service tower.

But today there is an air of optimism that Kodiak Star -- a mission to place a quartet of NASA and Air Force satellites into space -- will get off the ground. Diller said the weather began improving after midnight, and by launch time tonight the scene should be quite nice. "It looks like a good day launch," said.

Crews are right now in the process of rolling back the launch pad's service tower from around the Athena rocket. The structure rolls on large wheels along railroad tracks and is pulled by a tractor.

Engineers and launch managers did meet last night to review the failure of Orbital Sciences Taurus. The Taurus and Athena both use the Castor 120 solid-fueled rocket motor as their first stage. However, all data from the Taurus launch indicates the Castor 120 performed as expected. The trouble seemed to occur during the second stage firing, which is an Orion 50S motor that Athena does not use.

"There doesn't seem to be anything that would seem to implicate the Castor 120," Diller said.

We will begin continuous live countdown and launch coverage at 7:30 p.m. EDT (2330 GMT).

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2001

Bad weather has forced today's launch attempt for the Lockheed Martin Athena rocket to be scrubbed. Officials made the call after conditions delayed routine pre-launch activities today. Another attempt will be made tomorrow.

"The combination of gusty winds, low clouds and rain precluded a launch attempt today," said Jim Sardonia, launch weather officer.

Saturday's launch window extends from 5 to 7 p.m. Alaska Time (9 to 11 p.m. EDT; 0100-0300 GMT Sunday).

The weather is expected to be a bit better on Saturday.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2001

The first attempt to launch satellites into Earth orbit from Alaska is planned for Friday but there is only a glimmer of hope the weather will permit Lockheed Martin's Athena rocket to soar as scheduled.

Meteorologists put the chances of acceptable weather at just 1-in-10 for the two-hour launch window in which the Athena can blast off from its scenic pad on Kodiak Island. Strong winds, clouds and rain are all forecast as a low pressure system sweeps across the region.

But since there is the 10 percent chance that conditions could improve to meet the strict launch weather rules, officials plan to press ahead with the countdown to liftoff.

"The wind is a concern. It is a concern for the safety of the vehicle," NASA launch manager Chuck Dovale said. "We would like to give it a try if there is no concern with the wind exceeding that (safety limit) and it is truly cloud cover."

Dovale says weather forecasts can sometimes be wrong, so you shouldn't give up too soon.

"It has been my experience we have launched when we have had 90 percent "no go" in the past and we have actually scrubbed when we have had 10 percent "no go."

Friday's launch window extends from 5 to 7 p.m. Alaska Time (9 to 11 p.m. EDT; 0100-0300 GMT on Saturday). Dovale said the window can't be extended even if there was better weather expected later in the evening.

Launch Weather Officer Jim Sardonia will be busy on Friday keeping track of the weather and passing the information to mission officials. In the updated forecast Thursday he summarized the situation:

"Conditions will deteriorate quickly today on Kodiak Island as a very strong low-pressure center and frontal system move into the Aleutian chain. This will bring gusty winds, moderate to heavy rainshowers and low cloud ceilings to Kodiak tonight and Friday.

"Winds are expected to be very gusty this evening and Friday morning with sustained winds above 20 knots and gusts as high as 40 knots. This may pose a threat to tower retraction operations on Friday morning. The constraint for tower roll is 26 knots (peak).

"Seas are expected to be high on Friday and Saturday with swells as high as 7 - 9 ft with short periods.

"This system will eventually exit the area to the east, providing favorable weather by Sunday and possibly as early as Saturday night.

"The main concerns for launch day will be the surface winds prohibiting tower retraction Friday morning and the proximity to rainshowers and cloud ceilings below 5,000 feet during the launch window."

The launch conditions are predicted to include broken nimbostratus clouds at 1,000 feet with tops at 3,000 feet and 6/8ths sky coverage, stratus clouds at 3,000 feet with tops at 6,000 feet and complete overcast coverage, visibility of two miles, easterly winds from 080 degrees at 15 gusting to 25 knots, a temperature of 48 to 50 degrees F, relative humidity of 95 to 100 percent and light to moderate rainshowers in the area.

Saturday's weather is better with a 60 percent chance of violating the launch rules due to rain and low cloud ceilings. Sunday's forecast calls for a 40 percent chance of bad weather with low cloud ceilings, thick clouds and rain being the threats.

Launch day activities will get underway at 1615 GMT (12:15 p.m. EDT) with a weather briefing for officials to determine if the mobile service tower can be rolled away from the rocket. If winds are too strong, violating the 26-knot limit, then the tower must remain in position around Athena. The scheduled start time of tower rollback is 1700 GMT (1:00 p.m. EDT) at T-minus 8 hours.

We will update this page with status updates on the countdown on Friday afternoon and begin continuous live coverage at 2330 GMT (7:30 p.m. EDT).

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2001

The Lockheed Martin Athena rocket remains poised for launch Friday from Kodiak Island in Alaska on a mission for NASA and the U.S. Air Force. It would be the second space shot of the day following the Orbital Sciences Taurus launch from California.

But the main hurdle the Athena faces is the weather. There is an 80 percent chance conditions will prohibit liftoff during the two-hour launch window of 5 to 7 p.m. Alaska Time (9 to 11 p.m. EDT; 0100-0300 GMT on Saturday). Launch Weather Officer Jim Sardonia issued this forecast on Tuesday:

"Generally good weather is expected today and Wednesday on Kodiak Island. Weather computer models continue to show another strong weather system developing in the Aleutian chain on Thursday. This will bring gusty winds, more rain and low cloud ceilings to Kodiak on Thursday, Friday and possibly Saturday. Sea States are expected to be high on Friday as well with swells of 7 - 9 ft with short periods. This system will eventually exit the area to the east, providing favorable weather by Sunday and possibly as early as Saturday night. The main concerns for launch day will be the proximity to rainshowers and cloud ceilings below 5,000 ft."

The launch conditions are predicted to include broken nimbostratus clouds at 1,000 feet with 6/8ths sky coverage, stratus clouds at 3,000 feet with complete overcast coverage, visibility of two miles, northeasterly winds from 050 degrees at 18 gusting to 28 knots, a temperature of 48 to 50 degrees F, relative humidity of 95 to 100 percent and light to moderate rainshowers in the area.

The weather rules that could be violated given the forecast are: Surface winds prohibiting tower retraction, proximity to rainshowers, cloud ceilings less than 5,000 feet, disturbed weather rule and the thick cloud rule.

Should the launch slip to Saturday, the weather is expected to improve only slightly with a 70 percent chance of unacceptable conditions. The concerns are: Surface winds prohibiting tower retraction, surface winds prohibiting launch, proximity to rainshowers and cloud ceilings less than 5,000 feet.

The weather on Sunday is predicted to be much better with only a 30 percent chance of not launching. The only concern will be cloud ceilings less than 5,000 feet.

Stay with Spaceflight Now for continuing launch coverage. We will have a complete mission preview Thursday evening and then continuous countdown and launch updates starting at 2330 GMT (7:30 p.m. EDT) on Friday.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2001

A Lockheed Martin Athena rocket on the Kodiak Star mission has been given the green light for blastoff Friday now that the launch team has reached Alaska following the resumption of commercial air travel in the U.S.

The launch is running four days later than planned because America's grounded air fleet prevented key personnel from flying up to Alaska. Friday's launch window extends from 5 to 7 p.m. Alaska Time (9 to 11 p.m. EDT; 0100-0300 GMT on Saturday).

Senior officials held the Flight Readiness Review in Anchorage on Sunday. "Everyone is up here now, the rocketship is ready and the payloads are ready," NASA spokesman George Diller said.

The team will travel from Anchorage to the remote Kodiak Island launch site on Monday.

Kodiak Star is comprised of four small satellites payloads.

The NASA-sponsored, student-built Starshine 3 satellite is covered with 1,500 aluminum mirrors, the highly reflective sphere will be seen flying overhead with the naked eye, allowing schoolchildren around the world to track the satellite.

The three Department of Defense Space Test Program payloads are PICOSat, PCSat and Sapphire.

PICOSat, built by Surrey Satellite Technology in the U.K., features four onboard experiments including tests of a flexible polymer battery, using GPS to study the ionospheric impacts to communications and navigation signals and vibration control for satellite sensors.

The Prototype Communications Satellite, or PCSat, is the first in a planned series of small spacecraft designed, built and tested by midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy. The craft will be used to relay position data from amateur radio operators to ground stations.

Sapphire, built by Stanford University, carries a couple of experiments and a voice synthesizer microchip designed to convert text messages into a human voice for transmission over amateur radio frequencies.

Meanwhile, NASA says activities are continuing for the launch of an Orbital Sciences Taurus rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Friday during a window of 11:49 a.m. to 12:07 p.m. Pacific Time (2:49-3:07 p.m. EDT; 1849-1907 GMT). The rocket will carry the commercial OrbView-4 Earth-imaging satellite and NASA's QuikTOMS ozone monitoring spacecraft.

The only possible conflict between the two launches was the Vandenberg tracking station that was supposed to support both QuikTOMS and Kodiak Star.

Diller said support for QuikTOMS was desired but not essential, whereas the site is a mandatory requirement for Kodiak Star. Thus, the station will be configured for tracking the Athena mission.

We will have complete coverage of both launches this week!