Secret space plane to launch today after delay - Technology & science - Space - Space.com
The U.S. Air Force will try to launch its second secretive X-37B space plane from Florida again Saturday (March 5), after bad weather foiled the first attempt Friday.
The unmanned X-37B mini-shuttle — which is known as Orbital Test Vehicle 2, or OTV-2 — is now slated to launch at 5:46 p.m. EST (2246 GMT) today from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The reusable space plane will ride to orbit atop an Atlas 5 rocket to begin its mysterious mission, if the weather allows.
Two launch attempts were thwarted yesterday due to high winds and thick cumulus clouds. The latter posed an unacceptable lightning risk, according to launch provider United Launch Alliance (ULA), which is overseeing launch preparations.
The forecast for today doesn't look much better. On Friday afternoon, ULA officials said there's a 70 percent chance bad weather will delay today's launch try.
Launch crews also had to replace a faulty piece of equipment needed for today's launch attempt, forcing Air Force officials to skip a planned 4:09 p.m. EST (2109 GMT) launch attempt — one of two flight opportunities for today, ULA officials [...]
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