Atlas V rocket set to launch from Cape Canaveral

Rocket is carrying satellite for NASA

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA says there is a 70 percent chance of favorable weather for a rocket launch set for Wednesday night.

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket will carry a Boeing Defense satellite into space. The launch is scheduled to happen at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 8:48 p.m. NASA says there is a 40 minute window for the launch, until 9:28 p.m.

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Wednesday's launch will be the first for ULA in 2013.

The Atlas V rocket is carrying Boeing's Tracking Data Relay System (TDRS). NASA will use the TDRS satellite "to provide around-the-clock communications to [NASA's] most critical missions in low-earth orbit."

The TDRS project was established by NASA in 1973. The newest satellite will replace aging equipment to expand and maintain the TDRS network.


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