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5:11 a.m. local (8:11 a.m. EST)
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5:03 a.m. local (8:03 a.m. EST)
Loading of the Delta 2 rocket's first stage liquid oxygen tank has been accomplished. The process took 26 minutes, 17 seconds today. The tank will be replenished through the countdown to replace the super-cold liquid oxygen that naturally boils away.

And now the Delta 2 rocket stands fully fueled its launch of the SMAP spacecraft at 6:20 a.m. local (9:20 a.m. EST). The vehicle's first stage was already successfully loaded with RP-1 kerosene fuel. The second stage was filled with its storable nitrogen tetroxide and Aerozine 50 fuels earlier this week. And the three strap-on booster rockets are solid-propellant.
5:02 a.m. local (8:02 a.m. EST)
The first stage liquid oxygen tank has reached the 95 percent full level. The "rapid load" valve was closed, with the slower "fine load" phase continuing to fill the tank.
4:50 a.m. local (7:50 a.m. EST; 1250 GMT)
Liftoff is just 90 minutes away. Everything is going smoothly for today's launch of the Delta 2 rocket with SMAP. The spacecraft's goals include:
4:47 a.m. local (7:47 a.m. EST; 1247 GMT)
Ten minutes into the flow. LOX loading is an approximate 25-minute process to fill the first stage liquid oxygen tank.
4:37 a.m. local (7:37 a.m. EST; 1237 GMT)
Cryogenic liquid oxygen, chilled to Minus-298 degrees F, has started flowing from a 28,000-gallon storage tank at Space Launch Complex 2, through plumbing and into the bottom of the Delta 2 rocket. The LOX will be consumed by the first stage main engine during the first four-and-a-half minutes of flight along with the 10,000 gallons of RP-1 kerosene already loaded aboard the vehicle.
4:33 a.m. local (7:33 a.m. EST; 1233 GMT)
The launch team is performing the preparatory steps for filling the liquid oxygen tank.
4:31 a.m. local (7:31 a.m. EST; 1231 GMT)
The official "go" has been given to start first stage liquid oxygen loading right on time this morning.
4:25 a.m. local (7:25 a.m. EST)
NASA launch director Tim Dunn has completed a poll to confirm the agency management team is "go" for liquid oxygen loading. Upper level winds are RED at the present time but a lot of data still to come in.
4:20 a.m. local (7:20 a.m. EST)
The Range weather outlook continues to be acceptable for launch. The forecast predicts low-level clouds at 500 feet, some patchy ground fog, light winds and a temperature around 45 degrees F.
4:181 a.m. local (7:18 a.m. EST)
The rocket's guidance and control system has been brought online.
3:55 a.m. local (6:55 a.m. EST)
Typically at this point in a Delta 2 rocket countdown, the launch team loads 10,000 gallons of highly refined kerosene fuel into the first stage. However, this operation was completed Friday evening prior to retraction of the mobile service tower.

The kerosene, called RP-1, will be consumed along with liquid oxygen by the first stage RS-27A main engine and twin vernier steering thrusters during the initial four-and-a-half minutes of flight.

Filling of the stage with cryogenic liquid oxygen will begin about an hour from now.
3:25 a.m. local (6:25 a.m. EST)
Hazardous operations to pressurize the first and second stage helium and nitrogen systems and the second stage fuel and oxidizer tanks are getting underway at Space Launch Complex 2.
3:23 a.m. local (6:23 a.m. EST)
The rocket's control system and guidance computer are being turned on.
3:20 a.m. local (6:20 a.m. EST)
COUNTDOWN BEGINS! The three-hour countdown sequence has been initiated for today's launch of the Delta 2 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The booster will carry into orbit the SMAP observatory.

Liftoff from the Space Launch Complex 2 pad is scheduled for 6:20:42 a.m. local (9:20:42 a.m. EST; 1420:42 GMT). Today's available launch window is open for three minutes in duration.

Between now and the launch time, the rocket's guidance system will be activated, onboard helium and nitrogen tanks brought up to pressure, the liquid oxygen supply loaded into the first stage, checks performed on the safety system and steering tests conducted on the engines.

This is a standard countdown for the Delta 2, a typical timeline to ready the vehicle for flight. Pre-planned holds are built into the countdown at the T-minus 15 and T-minus 4 minute points. The first will last 20 minutes; the second will be 10 minutes in length. Those pauses are designed to give the launch team the opportunity to work problems or catch up on items perhaps running behind schedule.

Polls of the various launch team members and managers occur during that T-minus 4 minute hold to ensure everything is ready to proceed into the busy final minutes that see the rocket put on internal power, pressurized and armed for liftoff from California's Central Coast.

A reminder that if you will be away from your computer but would like to receive occasional countdown updates, sign up for our Twitter feed to get text message updates on your cellphone. U.S. readers can also sign up from their phone by texting "follow spaceflightnow" to 40404. (Standard text messaging charges apply.)
3:12 a.m. local (6:12 a.m. EST)
A poll has been completed to ensure all stations are manned and ready for the countdown to pick up 10 minutes from now.
2:20 a.m. local (5:20 a.m. EST)
T-minus 150 minutes and holding. At this time, the countdown is entering a planned 60-minute built-in hold. The Terminal Countdown begins once the hold concludes.

Launch remains targeted for 6:20 a.m. local (9:20 a.m. EST; 1420 GMT) from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
9:00 p.m. local (12:00 a.m. EST)
The mobile service tower has been retracted from the Delta 2 rocket at Vandenberg's Space Launch Complex 2 on the California coast as preparations get underway in earnest for the second launch attempt.

The 177-foot tall service tower was used to stack the two-stage vehicle, the three strap-on solid rocket motors and the SMAP payload atop the pad's launch mount. The tower also provided the primary weather protection and worker access to the rocket during its stay at the oceanside complex on North Vandenberg.

Ground teams will spend the next few of hours getting the pad configured and secured in advance of the Terminal Countdown. Launch remains targeted for 6:20 a.m. local (9:20 a.m. EST; 1420 GMT).

A reminder that if you will be away from your computer but would like to receive occasional countdown updates in the morning, sign up for our Twitter feed to get text message updates on your cellphone. U.S. readers can also sign up from their phone by texting "follow spaceflightnow" to 40404. (Standard text messaging charges apply.)
2:00 p.m. local (5:00 p.m. EST; 2200 GMT)
Launch managers have approved plans for another launch attempt Saturday for the Delta 2 rocket carrying NASA's Soil Moisture Active Passive mission. The weather forecast calls for a 100 percent chance of acceptable conditions.

"High pressure will continue to build in for Saturday leading to continued drying throughout the atmosphere," meteorologists wrote in a forecast summary. "Skies will be mostly clear with some scattered low stratus and slight upper level cirrus lingering over the range. Radiation fog will again develop over much of the low-lying areas of the range, dropping visibilities to 5-7 miles."

The temperature at launch time is expected to be around 40 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit, with surface winds out of the north-northeast at 8 to 12 knots. Maximum forecasted upper level winds are 65 knots out of the north at 30,000 feet.

Ground crews completed minor repairs to the Delta 2 rocket's booster insulation after workers noticed some of the material "debonded" from the vehicle when exposed to cold temperatures when cryogenic liquid oxygen was loaded aboard the first stage during Thursday's launch attempt.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2015
7:20 p.m. local (10:20 p.m. EST; 0320 GMT)
Liftoff of the Delta 2 rocket with SMAP has been delayed to a target launch date Saturday to repair insulation on the booster's first stage, United Launch Alliance has announced.

"During inspections following the Jan. 29 launch attempt, minor debonds to the booster insulation were identified," ULA said in a statement. "These insulation debonds are associated with cryogenic conditions experienced during tanking operations and a standard repair will be implemented."

Launch time on Saturday is set for 6:20 a.m. PST (9:20 a.m. EST; 1420 GMT).

6:21 a.m. local (9:21 a.m. EST; 1421 GMT)
Friday's launch time is set for 6:20 a.m. PST (9:20 a.m. EST; 1420 GMT). The weather outlook calls for a 90 percent chance of favorable conditions, with scattered clouds at 23,000 feet, patchy fog, and a temperature of 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

The only minor concern will be with surface winds, which are forecast to be out of the north-northwest at 15 to 18 knots.

6:16 a.m. local (9:16 a.m. EST; 1416 GMT)
SCRUB. Upper level winds remain "red" and will not be acceptable for launch in today's short three-minute launch window. The launch team has been directed to prepare for another try Friday.
6:12 a.m. local (9:12 a.m. EST; 1412 GMT)
Now 10 minutes to go. The rocket's launch opportunity today is three minutes. The window is dictated by the SMAP satellite mounted atop the 12-story booster, and launching at the time ensures optimum insertion of the payload into the desired orbit from the Vandenberg Air Force Base pad.
6:10 a.m. local (9:10 a.m. EST; 1410 GMT)
The Delta 2 launch team is waiting for data from a weather balloon to see if the winds aloft are acceptable for liftoff this morning.
6:08 a.m. local (9:08 a.m. EST; 1408 GMT)
New launch time! Liftoff of the Delta 2 rocket has been reset for 6:22 a.m. PST (9:22 a.m. EST; 1422 GMT).
6:06 a.m. local (9:06 a.m. EST; 1406 GMT)
T-minus 4 minutes and holding. The countdown has entered the final planned built-in hold. This is a scheduled 10-minute pause leading to today's liftoff time of 6:20:42 a.m. local (9:20:42 a.m. EST; 1420:42 GMT) for the Delta 2 rocket.

A reminder that if you will be away from your computer but would like to receive occasional countdown updates, sign up for our Twitter feed to get text message updates on your cellphone. U.S. readers can also sign up from their phone by texting "follow spaceflightnow" to 40404. (Standard text messaging charges apply.)
6:02 a.m. local (9:02 a.m. EST; 1402 GMT)
The first stage kerosene fuel tank is being pressurized for flight.
6:00 a.m. local (9:00 a.m. EST; 1400 GMT)
Twenty minutes to go.

After quickly climbing away from its coastal pad, the rocket will soar southward over the Pacific Ocean. The three solid boosters burn out and separate less than 90 seconds into the flight, leaving the kerosene-powered main engine to continue pushing the rocket. The spent stage then jettisons four-and-a-half minutes into flight to let the hydrazine-fueled second stage ignite.

Within 11 minutes, the vehicle settles into an initial 115 x 440 mile parking orbit along a trajectory the cruises above the South Pacific before crossing Antarctica and then proceeding northbound toward Africa. The second stage reignites its engine for 12 seconds over Madagascar to reach a near-circular polar orbit of 411 x 425 miles above the planet.

The 2,081-pound payload is expected to be released from the rocket 57 minutes after blastoff.

5:55 a.m. local (8:55 a.m. EST; 1355 GMT)
T-minus 15 minutes and counting. Countdown clocks are running again following the planned 20-minute hold. The count will continue to the T-minus 4 minute mark where another hold is scheduled. Launch remains set to occur at precisely 6:20:42 a.m. local (9:20:42 a.m. EST; 1420:42 GMT).
5:43 a.m. local (8:43 a.m. EST; 1343 GMT)
Upper level winds remain “Red” because of a wind shear at 34,000 feet. During this 20-minute hold, managers and engineers will receive a weather briefing and continue to monitor SMAP and Delta 2 systems.
5:40 a.m. local (8:40 a.m. EST; 1340 GMT)
Now just 40 minutes away from blastoff. The Delta 2 rocket launching SMAP is known as the 7320-10 model. It has a standard first stage with three solid rocket boosters, a hypergolic second stage, no third stage and a 10-foot-diameter payload shroud.

The first stage is fueled by RP-1, a highly refined kerosene, and supercold liquid oxygen. The RS-27A main engine, made by Aerojet Rocketdyne, generates about 237,000 pounds of thrust.

The strap-on solids are known as Graphite Epoxy Motors built by ATK. They generate 109,000 pounds of thrust each.

The second stage features a restartable Aerojet Rocketdyne AJ10-118K engine burning Aerozine 50, which is a mixture of hydrazine and dimethyl hydrazine, reacting with nitrogen tetroxide as an oxidizer. The total thrust is estimated at a 9,750 pounds.

The Delta 2 stands 126.6 feet tall and weighs 165.5 tons at liftoff.

5:35 a.m. local (8:35 a.m. EST; 1335 GMT)
T-minus 15 minutes and holding. Clocks have entered the first of two planned hold periods during the final portion of the Terminal Countdown. This pause will last 20 minutes in duration.

These holds are designed to give the launch team a chance to deal with any problems and catch up on work that could be running behind schedule.
5:33 a.m. local (8:33 a.m. EST; 1333 GMT)
Now moving into data link checks to verify good telemetry connections.
5:32 a.m. local (8:32 a.m. EST; 1332 GMT)
The first stage engine steering checks are complete.
5:30 a.m. local (8:30 a.m. EST; 1330 GMT)
The second stage engine slews just finished. First stage tests are starting.
5:25 a.m. local (8:25 a.m. EST; 1325 GMT)
The launch team is beginning the "slew" or steering checks of the first and second stage engines. These are gimbal tests of the nozzles on the first stage main engine and twin vernier engines and second stage engine to ensure the rocket will be able to steer itself during launch.
5:21 a.m. local (8:21 a.m. EST; 1321 GMT)
Checks of the rocket's safety system have been accomplished in the past few minutes of the countdown.
5:20 a.m. local (8:20 a.m. EST; 1320 GMT)
Sixty minutes from launch. The SMAP satellite will become the 229th primary payload put into space by the venerable Delta 2 rocket over the past 26 years. Here's a look at some other stats about today's mission. This will be:
5:13 a.m. local (8:13 a.m. EST; 1313 GMT)
A reminder that if you will be away from your computer but would like to receive occasional countdown updates, sign up for our Twitter feed to get text message updates on your cellphone. U.S. readers can also sign up from their phone by texting "follow spaceflightnow" to 40404. (Standard text messaging charges apply.)
5:03 a.m. local (8:03 a.m. EST; 1303 GMT)
Loading of the Delta 2 rocket's first stage liquid oxygen tank has been accomplished. The process took 26 minutes today. The tank will be replenished through the countdown to replace the super-cold liquid oxygen that naturally boils away.

And now the Delta 2 rocket stands fully fueled its launch of the SMAP spacecraft at 6:20 a.m. local (9:20 a.m. EST). The vehicle's first stage was already successfully loaded with RP-1 kerosene fuel. The second stage was filled with its storable nitrogen tetroxide and Aerozine 50 fuels earlier this week. And the three strap-on booster rockets are solid-propellant.
4:57 a.m. local (7:57 a.m. EST; 1257 GMT)
The first stage liquid oxygen tank has reached the 95 percent full level. The "rapid load" valve was closed, with the slower "fine load" phase continuing to fill the tank.
4:50 a.m. local (7:50 a.m. EST; 1250 GMT)
Liftoff is just 90 minutes away. Everything is going smoothly for today's launch of the Delta 2 rocket with SMAP. The spacecraft's goals include:
4:47 a.m. local (7:47 a.m. EST; 1247 GMT)
Ten minutes into the flow. LOX loading is an approximate 25-minute process to fill the first stage liquid oxygen tank.
4:37 a.m. local (7:37 a.m. EST; 1237 GMT)
Cryogenic liquid oxygen, chilled to Minus-298 degrees F, has started flowing from a 28,000-gallon storage tank at Space Launch Complex 2, through plumbing and into the bottom of the Delta 2 rocket. The LOX will be consumed by the first stage main engine during the first four-and-a-half minutes of flight along with the 10,000 gallons of RP-1 kerosene already loaded aboard the vehicle.
4:35 a.m. local (7:35 a.m. EST; 1235 GMT)
The launch team is performing the preparatory steps for filling the liquid oxygen tank.
4:33 a.m. local (7:33 a.m. EST; 1233 GMT)
The official "go" has been given to start first stage liquid oxygen loading right on time this morning.
4:25 a.m. local (7:25 a.m. EST)
NASA launch director Tim Dunn has completed a poll to confirm the agency management team is "go" for liquid oxygen loading. Upper level winds are RED at the present time but a lot of data still to come in.
Return to current status
4:23 a.m. local (7:23 a.m. EST)
The rocket's guidance and control system has been brought online.
4:20 a.m. local (7:20 a.m. EST)
The weather outlook continues to be acceptable for launch. The odds have improved to 90 percent acceptable. The forecast predicts mid- and high-level clouds, good visibility, light winds and a temperature around 50 degrees F.
3:55 a.m. local (6:55 a.m. EST)
Typically at this point in a Delta 2 rocket countdown, the launch team loads 10,000 gallons of highly refined kerosene fuel into the first stage. However, this operation was completed Wednesday afternoon prior to retraction of the mobile service tower.

The kerosene, called RP-1, will be consumed along with liquid oxygen by the first stage RS-27A main engine and twin vernier steering thrusters during the initial four-and-a-half minutes of flight.

Filling of the stage with cryogenic liquid oxygen will begin about an hour from now.
3:54 a.m. local (6:54 a.m. EST)
The first stage helium and nitrogen systems have been pressurized.
3:25 a.m. local (6:25 a.m. EST)
Hazardous operations to pressurize the first and second stage helium and nitrogen systems and the second stage fuel and oxidizer tanks are getting underway at Space Launch Complex 2.
3:23 a.m. local (6:23 a.m. EST)
The rocket's control system and guidance computer are being turned on.
3:20 a.m. local (6:20 a.m. EST)
COUNTDOWN BEGINS! The three-hour Terminal Countdown sequence has been initiated for today's launch of the Delta 2 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The booster will carry into orbit the SMAP observatory.

Liftoff from the Space Launch Complex 2 pad is scheduled for 6:20:42 a.m. local (9:20:42 a.m. EST; 1420:42 GMT). Today's available launch window is open for three minutes in duration.

Between now and the launch time, the rocket's guidance system will be activated, onboard helium and nitrogen tanks brought up to pressure, the liquid oxygen supply loaded into the first stage, checks performed on the safety system and steering tests conducted on the engines.

This is a standard countdown for the Delta 2, a typical timeline to ready the vehicle for flight. Pre-planned holds are built into the countdown at the T-minus 15 and T-minus 4 minute points. The first will last 20 minutes; the second will be 10 minutes in length. Those pauses are designed to give the launch team the opportunity to work problems or catch up on items perhaps running behind schedule.

Polls of the various launch team members and managers occur during that T-minus 4 minute hold to ensure everything is ready to proceed into the busy final minutes that see the rocket put on internal power, pressurized and armed for liftoff from California's Central Coast.

A reminder that if you will be away from your computer but would like to receive occasional countdown updates, sign up for our Twitter feed to get text message updates on your cellphone. U.S. readers can also sign up from their phone by texting "follow spaceflightnow" to 40404. (Standard text messaging charges apply.)
3:10 a.m. local (6:10 a.m. EST)
"Man stations for Terminal Count." That's the call to the launch team in preparation for a readiness check to ensure all consoles are "go" for starting the countdown 10 minutes from now.
2:20 a.m. local (5:20 a.m. EST)
T-minus 150 minutes and holding. At this time, the countdown is entering a planned 60-minute built-in hold. The Terminal Countdown begins once the hold concludes.

Launch remains targeted for 6:20 a.m. local (9:20 a.m. EST; 1420 GMT) from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
9:45 p.m. local (12:45 a.m. EST)
The Delta 2 rocket has been unveiled from the mobile servicing gantry at Vandenberg's Space Launch Complex 2 on the California coast.

A crowd of news media and VIPs watched over the past few minutes as the cocoon-like tower was wheeled away to get activities underway for tonight's launch countdown.

Rollback began just before 9:30 p.m. and was completed about 15 minutes later.

The 177-foot tall service tower was used to stack the two-stage vehicle, the three strap-on solid rocket motors and the SMAP payload atop the pad's launch mount. The tower also provided the primary weather protection and worker access to the rocket during its stay at the oceanside complex on North Vandenberg.

Ground teams will spend the next few of hours getting the pad configured and secured in advance of the Terminal Countdown. Launch remains targeted for 6:20 a.m. local (9:20 a.m. EST; 1420 GMT).

A reminder that if you will be away from your computer but would like to receive occasional countdown updates in the morning, sign up for our Twitter feed to get text message updates on your cellphone. U.S. readers can also sign up from their phone by texting "follow spaceflightnow" to 40404. (Standard text messaging charges apply.)
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015
The launch team is resting at this hour before the countdown operations kick off later this evening. Liftoff of the Delta 2 rocket remains on schedule for tomorrow morning at 6:20 a.m. local time (9:20 a.m. EST).

"I can't say enough good things about the entire launch team for this mission -- NASA, ULA, JPL, the Air Force 30th Space Wing," said Tim Dunn, the NASA launch director.

"I'm blessed to be able to call myself a member of this team."

The SMAP observatory will be delivered to orbit and deployed 56 minutes and 51 seconds after launch.

"The SMAP project is absolutely thrilled to be catching a ride to space on the Delta 2 vehicle, a vehicle with a very long and well proven history. We feel like we've been in very good hands and very well treated here at Vandenberg," said Kent Kellogg, the SMAP project manager.

"We have a lot of confidence that this mission is going to provide top-quality science data for many years in space."

It will be the year's second mission by United Launch Alliance, following last week's Atlas 5 launch for the U.S. Navy from Cape Canaveral.

"We are very proud to be America's ride to space," said Vernon Thorp, ULA program manager of NASA missions.

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