BY JUSTIN RAY

Follow the countdown and launch of the GOES-M weather satellite aboard a Lockheed Martin Atlas 2A rocket. Reload this page for the very latest on the mission.

0517 GMT (1:17 a.m. EDT)

Chilldown conditioning of the liquid oxygen transfer lines at pad 36A has been completed and the launch team is now beginning to fill the Centaur upper stage with its its supply of super-cold cryogenic oxidizer. The liquid oxygen is chilled to Minus-298 degrees F, and will be consumed by the Centaur's twin RL-10 engines along with liquid hydrogen to be pumped into the stage a little later in the countdown.

Meanwhile, the Anomaly Team has been convened to review a couple of unexpected measurement readings from the Centaur stage. The team's job is to discuss the issue and determine if any actions will be needed to resolve the concern.

0504 GMT (1:04 a.m. EDT)

The "chilldown" procedure is starting to thermally condition the liquid oxygen propellants lines at pad 36A in advance of loading the Centaur upper stage. Chilldown is a process in which a small amount of the super-cold liquid oxygen is released from the pad's storage tank into the feed lines that lead to the rocket.

Meanwhile, gaseous helium chilldown of the Centaur engines and pneumatic bottle charge for the stage have started. Also, checks of the wind damper arm and launcher pyrovent arm connecting the Atlas 2A rocket with the launch tower will be getting underway.

0502 GMT (1:02 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 105 minutes and counting. The countdown is running again following the planned half-hour built-in hold. Activities remain on track for liftoff in two hours at 3:02 a.m. EDT (0702 GMT).

Lockheed Martin is not reporting any technical problems and the weather looks promising for launch during today's 83-minute window.

0458 GMT (12:58 a.m. EDT)

Lockheed Martin Launch Conductor Ed Christiansen has just polled his launch team for a readiness to begin fueling the Atlas rocket. All parties reported "go" status. Approval was then given to start loading super-cold liquid propellants into the vehicle. Countdown clocks are due to resume at 1:02 a.m. EDT from the T-minus 105 minute mark and the initial stages of fueling will get underway moments later.

At launch pad 36A the tower securing work, final checks and removal of stabilization shims have been completed. The technicians are now ready to depart the complex.

0447 GMT (12:47 a.m. EDT)

Now half-way through this 30-minute scheduled hold at T-minus 105 minutes.

The 219-foot tall mobile service tower has been retracted to the launch position. The tower is used to erect the rocket on the launch pad, provide access for workers to all areas of the vehicle and protection from the weather. It is electrically driven on four-wheel assemblies.

0432 GMT (12:32 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 105 minutes and holding. Clocks have entered a planned 30-minute hold period for the countdown tonight at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station for launch of the Lockheed Martin Atlas 2A rocket. Launch remains scheduled for 3:02 a.m. EDT (0702 GMT).

The count has 45 minutes of built-in holds scheduled over the course the morning that will lead to liftoff. A second and final hold is planned at T-minus 5 minutes for 15 minutes. The holds are designed to give the launch team a window of time to work any problems that could arise without delaying other pre-flight preparations.

The Air Force reports there are no Safety Collision Avoidance periods, or COLAs, that would prohibit liftoff during any portion of tonight's 83-minute launch window. Also, computer analysis shows that should a explosion occur, debris would fall in the cleared impact areas based on current wind conditions tonight.

0402 GMT (12:02 a.m. EDT)

The mobile service tower at launch pad 36A is beginning to roll away from the Atlas 2A rocket. Also, the launch team is starting the final alignment of the vehicle's guidance computer following the completion of a navigation test.

Over the past couple of hours, the launch team at Complex 36 have worked through propulsion launch preps for the Atlas and Centaur stages, powered up the rocket's flight control system, conducted Atlas hydraulic system and Atlas and Centaur pneumatic preps and Centaur main engine igniter checks were also started.

0347 GMT (11:47 p.m. EDT Sun.)

"Man stations for Integrated Launch Operations." That is the call to the launch team for members to take their positions at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station as the countdown shifts into high gear for tonight's liftoff of the Lockheed Martin Atlas 2A rocket on a mission to place the GOES-M weather satellite into orbit. Liftoff is scheduled for 3:02 a.m. EDT.

The countdown is being controlled from the Complex 36 Blockhouse where the 120-member launch team has assembled to oversee the activities leading up to liftoff of the Atlas rocket designated AC-142.

The latest weather forecast is calling for 60 percent chance of acceptable conditions. At launch time the conditions are predicted to include scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, broken clouds at 12,000 and 24,000 feet, 5 miles visibility, southerly winds at 10 gusting to 22 knots, a temperature of 77 to 79 degrees F, relative humidity of 90 percent and a chance of coastal rainshowers.

Our reports are coming to you live from inside the Atlas Spaceflight Operations Center at Cape Canaveral's Complex 41 where a team is "shadowing" the real launch crew down the road at Complex 36. This state-of-the-art facility is the future of Lockheed Martin's Atlas launch activities in Florida. The ASOC will house the launch control center for Atlas 5, plus serve as the storage and checkout building for the next-generation rocket. In fact, the first Atlas 5 vehicle is downstairs undergoing pathfinder testing in advance of its inaugurual launch next spring.

SUNDAY, JULY 22, 2001
2350 GMT (7:50 p.m. EDT)

The second countdown is underway for the launch of the Atlas 2A rocket with the GOES-M weather satellite at Cape Canaveral. Liftoff remains scheduled for 3:02 a.m. EDT, the opening of an 83-minute window extending to 4:25 a.m. EDT.

The weather forecast is still calling for a 60 percent chance of acceptable conditions. The main threat is a passing rainshower holding up the launch.

Our next update on this page should come with the start of the Integrated Launch Operations portion of the countdown at 11:47 p.m. EDT, or earlier if necessary.

2200 GMT (5:00 p.m. EDT)

The Atlas rocket has checked out satisfactorily following yesterday's nearby lightning strike. Preparations are underway to start the launch countdown at 6:12 p.m. EDT for the planned 3:02 a.m. EDT blastoff from pad 36A at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

0458 GMT (12:58 a.m. EDT)

NEW DATE. The Lockheed Martin Atlas rocket launch of GOES-M has been rescheduled for early Monday morning, 24 hours later than planned so workers could make precautionary health checks on the vehicle. The tests were ordered after lightning struck pad 36B on Saturday evening. The site is adjacent to pad 36A where this Atlas will be launched.

Monday's launch window extends from 3:02 to 4:25 a.m. EDT (0702-0825 GMT).

Launch Weather Officer Jim Sardonia is predicting a 60 percent chance of acceptable conditions during the window. The forecasting is calling for scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, broken clouds at 12,000 and 24,000 feet, five miles of visibility, southerly winds from 170 degrees at 10 gusting to 18 knots, a temperature of 75 to 77 degrees F, relative humidity of 85 percent and a chance of coastal rainshowers in the area.

0224 GMT (10:24 p.m. EDT Sat.)

SCRUB! The launch of an Atlas 2A rocket with the GOES-M weather satellite has been postponed after lightning struck the neighboring pad at Cape Canaveral's Complex 36. Officials have decided to revalidate the rocket's ordnance before proceeding with the launch. A new launch date has not been announced, though the delay is likely to be 24 or 48 hours.

SATURDAY, JULY 21, 2001
2211 GMT (6:11 p.m. EDT)

The countdown begins at this time for the overnight launch of an Atlas rocket carrying the GOES-M weather satellite for NASA and NOAA. Liftoff remains targeted for 3:01 a.m. EDT from Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

Throughout the evening crews in the blockhouse and at pad 36A will proceed through their standard countdown chores needed to ready the Atlas booster and its Centaur upper stage for launch.

Highlights of activities planned tonight include starting Centaur propulsion launch preps at 7:26 p.m.; powering up the rocket's flight control system at 7:31 p.m.; starting Atlas propulsion and hydraulic systems preps at 7:56 p.m.; starting preps of the pad's tower and mobile service structure at 8:26 p.m.; performing the flight control operational test at 8:31 p.m.; starting the internal power test of Atlas/Centaur at 9:06 p.m.; performing a navigation test of rocket's guidance computer at 9:16 p.m.; starting Centaur engine igniter checks at 9:26 p.m.; starting Centaur helium purges at 10:36 p.m.; powering up the GOES-M satellite at 11:11 p.m. so technicians can perform the final work to configure the spacecraft for launch; and starting liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen system final preps at 11:41 p.m.

The Integrated Launch Operations -- the formal portion of the countdown -- begins at 11:46 p.m. with all the launch team members at their respective positions.

The mobile service structure should start rolling away from the Atlas rocket at 12:01 a.m., weather permitting. The tower can be retracted via remote control later in the countdown if weather conditions force a delay.

Countdown clocks will enter a planned 30-minute hold at 12:31 a.m. at the T-minus 105 minute mark. During this time the launch team will have a chance to catch up on any work that might be running behind schedule.

Fueling of the rocket with super-cold liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen cryogenics commences after the countdown is restarted. Centaur liquid oxygen tanking starts at 1:15 a.m.; followed by loading liquid oxygen into the Atlas stage at 1:41 a.m.; and lastly liquid hydrogen fueling of Centaur 1:55 a.m.

A final planned hold is scheduled at T-minus 5 minutes for 15 minutes in duration. If there are no problems standing in the way of liftoff, the countdown will resume 2:56 a.m. for an on-time launch at 3:01 a.m.

2000 GMT (4:00 p.m. EDT)

It is a stormy afternoon here along Florida's Space Coast today, just as meteorologists predicted. Launch Weather Officer Jim Sardonia says it still looks like a 70 percent chance of not meeting the launch weather rules for the Atlas rocket early Sunday.

The widespread thunderstorms being experienced this afternoon is expected to give way to lingering rainshowers and isolated thunderstorms late tonight and into the early hours of Sunday. The hope is some breaks will develop in the clouds and weather for liftoff during the available launch window of 3:01 to 4:25 a.m. EDT.

FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2001

An advanced U.S weather satellite is supposed to be launched into space in the predawn hours on Sunday from Cape Canaveral atop a Lockheed Martin Atlas 2A rocket, but in an ironic twist bad weather could keep the mission grounded.

A stew of nasty weather systems on Saturday is threatening to keep workers cleared off the launch pad 36A tower, thus bringing countdown activities to a grinding halt. And the forecast for Sunday's 3:01 to 4:25 a.m. EDT launch window is also iffy with a 70 percent chance conditions will prohibit liftoff.

"The one thing I can guarantee tomorrow night is that the launch weather team is going to be busy. We expect a lot of weather," said Jim Sardonia, the Air Force launch weather officer.

"We have a low pressure center that is spinning off the coast of South Carolina and slowly drifting to the south. And along with that, it is dragging a weak frontal system, an actual stationary boundary that is due west of the low stretching through southern Georgia and southern Alabama. That entire system is going to slowly drift to the south, bringing the weather with it. Along with that, we have a different weather pattern that is going to affect us -- the typical afternoon summertime thunderstorms.

"Some of the (computer) models indicate the low will be right on top of us in the afternoon hours. That is a bad combination. You have the max heating of the surface, the seabreeze fronts and along with the instability due to that low. There is a very good chance of severe thunderstorms on Kennedy and the Cape...As the sun goes down at 8:19 p.m. the thunderstorms should decrease a bit. However, due to the low being in our vicinity there is a chance we could see some isolated thunderstorms throughout the night and into the launch window."

Despite the obstacles, Sardonia says there is some glimmer of hope in his forecast of 70 percent chance of "no-go" weather.

"That number indicates a chance of violating any constraint during any time of the launch window. However, I think we are going to have an opportunity at some time during the window and we are going to see a few breaks...It is an optimistic 70 percent, if there is such a thing."

But before the Atlas rocket can have a shot at launching, the vehicle and launch pad must be readied first. If severe thunderstorms and lightning move too close to the launch pad, workers will be forced to clear the tower for safety reasons. Officials are concerned that countdown activities could fall behind schedule if crews are chased off the pad for any significant period of time Saturday evening.

The countdown does have some slack built into it, allowing for the team to catch up if there are delays. Additionally, the launch window extends for 84 minutes, so that gives officials some extra time to work with.

Once the workers have finished their launch pad chores, then the rocket can be fueled with super-cold liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. The fueling cannot occur when workers are at the pad, again due to safety concerns. One advantage Lockheed Martin has to fight the weather is the ability to fuel the vehicle with the protective cocoon-like mobile service tower still enclosed around the rocket. That means the countdown can proceed with the tower shielding the Atlas from the weather.

"We do have the capability of doing what we call 'tanking in the tower.' We have used that option before that allows us to continue with the operation even with bad weather," said Adrian Laffitte, Lockheed Martin's director of Atlas launch operations.

The normal tower removal time is 12:01 a.m. EDT. But it can be delayed until the final minutes of the countdown and then retracted via remote control.

Countdown clocks begin ticking at 6:11 p.m. EDT and we will here with live updates throughout the launch of the GOES-M weather satellite aboard the Atlas 2A rocket.

THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2001

A satellite that will observe earthly and solar weather conditions is on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral for a weekend blastoff atop a Lockheed Martin Atlas 2A rocket.

The GOES-M spacecraft is the fifth and final member of the current Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) series designed to provide meteorologists with the data they need to track and forecast weather conditions across the U.S. The Space Systems/Loral-built satellite also carries the new Solar X-ray Imager, giving scientists another tool to monitor the storms billowing from the Sun that can disrupt communications and power grids on Earth and damage orbiting spacecraft.

Liftoff is slated for 3:01 a.m. EDT (0701 GMT) Sunday from pad 36A. The available launch window extends 84 minutes to 4:25 a.m. EDT (0825 GMT).

The weather forecast calls for a 60 percent chance of acceptable conditions. The main threats will be severe thunderstorms during the final hours of the countdown that could stall pre-launch activities and rainshowers and culumus clouds during the launch window.

"On Saturday afternoon, severe thunderstorms are possible on station as a trough of low pressure moves into central Florida. After sunset Saturday, most thunderstorms are expected to slowly dissipate in the local area, however light rainshowers and a few isolated thunderstorms may linger along the trough into the early morning hours of Sunday. The exact location of the trough axis will be critical in determining favorable weather conditions for launch," Launch Weather Officer Jim Sardonia said.

The launch time forecast calls for scattered cumulus clouds at 3,000 feet with 3/8ths sky coverage, broken altocumulus clouds at 10,000 feet with 5/8ths sky coverage and broken cirrus clouds at 24,000 feet with 7/8ths sky coverage, visibility of 5 miles, southerly winds of 10 gusting to 18 knots, temperature of 77 to 79 degrees F, relative humidity of 80 percent and a chance of rainshowers and isolated thunderstorms in the area.

Should the launch slip 24 hours to Monday morning, the forecast improves slightly to a 70 percent chance of good weather.

Spaceflight Now will be your source for comprehensive live coverage of this Atlas mission with a running commentary of the countdown and launch. Our coverage will originate from the vantage point of Lockheed Martin's new Atlas 5 Space Operations Center -- a state-of-the-art facility under construction at Cape Canaveral's Complex 41. The ASOC will serve as the launch control center for the next generation Atlas 5 rocket, as well as Atlas 2 and 3 rockets starting later this year.

Watch this page for a full launch preview on Friday and live coverage Saturday night through the entire 27-minute flight of the Atlas-Centaur rocket early Sunday.