Delta II rocket launch delayed again at Vandenberg

For the second morning in a row, the Delta II rocket team at Vandenberg Air Force Base had to postpone the countdown, this time due to upper level winds that exceeded safety limits.

Liftoff was aiming for 1:47 a.m. from Space Launch Complex-2 with the team targeting a 24-hour turnaround.

A Thursday launch attempt also will shoot for departure at 1:47 a.m. for the 12-story-tall rocket built by United Launch Alliance.

The latest delay occurred less than 17 minutes before the planned liftoff Wednesday.

Upper-level winds were deemed at unacceptable limits for the Delta II rocket’s flight and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Joint Polar Satellite System, or JPSS-1, on board.

“You want to ensure that the rocket is not buffetted by severe winds. That there’s no wind shear or anything that could be a concern for the safety of the rocket and of course it’s important NOAA JPSS-1 payload,” a NASA launch commentator said.

Mission managers assessed the weather and determined conditions would not improve before the planned liftoff time Wednesday morning., NASA officials said.

However, the forecast for upper-level winds look equally troublesome for a Thursday attempt so the launch team leaders were expected to meet to confirm when they will try again.

A day earlier, a last-minute technical glitch was partially to be blame for the first scrub. Mariners in the exclusion area off the coast also were a concern for safety reasons.

JPSS-1 is the first in a series of a new generation of weather satellites to collect global measurements of atmospheric, land and sea conditions.

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This story was originally published November 15, 2017 at 8:13 AM with the headline "Delta II rocket launch delayed again at Vandenberg."