NASA aims to launch a mission to the moon this week but stormy weather
could conspire to keep a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket on the
ground.
The 125-foot Delta II Heavy is scheduled to blast off
from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Launch Complex 17B at 8:37 a.m.
Thursday. A second, 60-second window will open at 9:16 a.m. if need be
Nestled
atop the rocket: NASA's twin GRAIL spacecraft. The mirror-image
satellites will map the gravitational field of the moon during an 82-day
science campaign next spring. They are due to arrive at the moon on Dec
31 and Jan. 1 after a low-energy approach to Earth's sole natural
satellite.
The weather forecast for launch is a bit iffy. It
calls for a 60-percent chance that thunderstorms or electrically charged
clouds would keep the rocket grounded either Thursday or Friday.
Check out the OFFICIAL FORECAST produced by the Air Force 45th Space Wing Weather Squadron.
The official NASA Press Kit is HERE.
A mission summary is HERE.
A NASA Fact Sheet is HERE.
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