The service structure at the Kodiak Launch Complex rolled away from the Minotaur 4 rocket at about 12 p.m. local time Friday, four-and-a-half hours before the scheduled liftoff with seven small satellites for the U.S. military, NASA and university students. These images show the tower retraction and local scenery during the final countdown, including a buffalo herd that shares the facility with rocket operations.

Photo credit: Stephen Clark/Spaceflight Now