Looking to make it two successes in a row, Lockheed Martin's next-generation Atlas 5 rocket will take its second flight Monday, blasting off from Florida's east coast carrying a commercial telecommunications satellite.

The Atlas 5 program -- the first rocket seen here last August -- is preparing for its second launch. Photo: Lockheed Martin

Flying in the exact same configuration as its successful maiden launch last August, the 401 version, liftoff is scheduled for 5:57 p.m. EDT (2157 GMT). The day's launch window extends 34 minutes to 6:31 p.m. EDT (2231 GMT).

Meteorologists are optimistic of acceptable weather conditions as the early forecast calls for a 90 percent chance of meeting the launch rules. See the forecast here.

Lockheed Martin has three consecutive days available on the Eastern Range to launch the Atlas 5. The Air Force-controlled network provides required tracking, communications and safety services to all Space Coast rocket flights.

But the Range is slated to close Thursday for a series of modifications and upgrades for Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle missions. If the Atlas 5 isn't off the ground by mid-week, it could be grounded until the Range blackout period ends around June 18.

Lockheed Martin officials are counting on a repeat performance from their launch team. The debut Atlas 5 lifted off at the opening of the launch window on the first attempt.

An Atlas 5 rocket on the pad. The Vertical Integration Facility is on the left. Photo: Lockheed Martin

Pleased with the success of the first Atlas 5 rocket, designated AV-001, only tweaks have been made since that flight.

"We looked at all the post-flight data," Atlas launch director Adrian Laffitte said in an interview. "We made some minor changes here and there, but nothing that you will notice from AV-001."

The key difference for the upcoming AV-002 mission will be compressing the countdown into a one-day launch pad campaign.

During AV-001 last year, the rocket was rolled from its assembly building to the pad at Cape Canaveral's Complex 41 on the day prior to liftoff. The rocket spent about 33 hours exposed on the seaside complex.

For AV-002, the Atlas 5 will make its 1,800-foot trek from the Vertical Integration Facility to the pad at about 8:45 a.m. on launch morning, with the plan to spend only 9 hours outside before blasting off.

"We always had that as a goal," Laffitte said. "Through all of the rehearsals that we have done, we were looking for ways to see whether we could cut out activity. The first (launch), obviously, we had a little bit of cushion in there. As we got better and smarter, we always have been asking the entire crew 'as you are doing your tasks, try to figure out a better way to do it that will allow us to get down to a one-day count.'"

Adrian Laffitte, the director of Atlas launch operations at Cape Canaveral. Photo: Justin Ray/Spaceflight Now

Last week during a launch countdown dress rehearsal in which the rocket was rolled to the pad and fully fueled, Lockheed Martin operated on the one-day timeline that will be used for AV-002.

"We demonstrated that we learned from our past experience to cut a whole day out of the flow and we executed successfully," Laffitte said.

"You are reducing the risk for weather of having the vehicle out there. Plus it is getting it back to what we advertised of what we wanted to do," Laffitte said in explaining the benefits of shrinking the countdown.

Riding atop the Atlas 5 is the 7,165-pound Hellas Sat communications satellite. About 31 minutes after liftoff, the Centaur upper stage is expected to deploy the craft into a supersynchronous transfer orbit with a high point of 46,196 nautical miles, low point of 169 nautical miles and inclination of 17.06 degrees to the equator.

The Astrium-built craft will use its onboard kick engine to achieve a geostationary orbit 22,300 miles over the equator. The Hellas Sat Consortium of Nicosia, Cyprus, will operate the satellite to provide television broadcasting, voice and Internet services to Greece, Cyprus, the Balkans and Eastern Europe.

An artist's concept of Hellas Sat deployed in space. Credit: Astrium

The satellite will be used extensively to relay TV transmissions of the 2004 Olympic Games from Athens.

This launch had been scheduled for March. But concerns with welds led to the replacement of the Centaur upper stage, delaying the mission two months.

"We didn't feel comfortable with the Centaur...We told our customer that we wanted to replace it, and we were willing to take the hit on the launch and not be driven by schedule," Laffitte said.