NROL-52 AtlasV by United Launch Alliance
think I can safely speak for the Space Coast when I say that we're tired of the weather, but I shudder to think about the stresses the weather is placing on this #AtlasV rocket, and on the United Launch Alliance team responsible for it (and the #NROL52 payload).
The rocket, shown here (with admittedly comic amounts of detail to bring out the clouds), has been sitting on the pad since Tuesday, and ground winds foiled the attempt to launch early this (Thursday) morning.
This photo was taken yesterday (Wednesday) morning, during a rainy and very windy remote camera setup, and the standing water in the foreground is an unusual sight. At least in my experience, this area of SLC-41 at 45th Space Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. is usually (mostly) dry.
The next launch attempt is set for tonight (Friday morning) at 4:03 am (ET), although the weather seems to be an ongoing challenge: the current probability of favorable weather is at 30%.
(Photo by Michael Seeley / We Report Space)