Playalinda Beach is an ideal public viewing spot for Friday morning’s Atlas 5 rocket launch of the Navy’s MUOS 5 communications satellite. The location puts you less than five miles from the launch pad to feel the 2.5 million pounds of liftoff thrust!
Launch is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. EDT (1430 GMT). There is a 44-minute launch opportunity running until 11:14 a.m. EDT (1514 GMT) to ensure the spacecraft is placed into the desired orbit.
Weather forecasters predict an 80 percent chance of favorable conditions, with summertime thunderstorms not firing up until after the launch window closes.
See earlier MUOS 5 coverage.
Our Atlas archive.
