Launch journal from Florida Today

2 p.m. EDT, Thursday, July 17, 2003

Preparations are continuing for this evening's launch. At a weather briefing earlier today, Jim Sardonia of the 45th Weather Squadron reiterated a 60 percent chance of acceptable weather, as storms go up and die down toward sunset. "That's an optimistic 60, I'd say - we're in pretty good shape."

Southeast winds could bring a chance of coastal showers at sunset.

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10:50 a.m. EDT, Thursday, July 17, 2003

The countdown for this evening's Atlas 5 launch and rollout of the rocket are under way. The launch window extends from 7:20 p.m. to 9 p.m. EDT.

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10:30 a.m. EDT, Monday, July 14, 2003

International Launch Services is preparing to launch Lockheed Martin's third Atlas V rocket, the first to use the 500 configuration. The Atlas V 500 series uses a 5.4-meter payload fairing built by Contraves. Though it can use five Aerojet solid rocket boosters, this flight will use two.

The 45th Weather Squadron forecast for Thursday evening's launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station shows a 70 percent chance of acceptable weather. The typical summer pattern for central Florida is expected to persist, with showers and thunderstorms forming in the afternoon. The storms are expected to pop up west of Cape Canaveral and should be driven west, though anvil clouds from the storms could pose a threat to launch. Forecasters also will keep an eye on the potential for coastal showers to form.

In the case of a 24- or 48-hour delay, the chances of good weather go down to 60 percent.

The rocket will be carrying the Rainbow 1 geostationary direct-broadcast satellite for Cablevision. The satellite's expected life is 18 years.

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