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High winds delay Delta IV rocket launch from Vandenberg

The National Reconnaissance Office’s NROL-47 payload, encapsulated inside a 5-meter payload fairing, is mated to a Delta IV rocket at Vandenberg Air Force Base’s Space Launch Complex-6 to prep for departure.
The National Reconnaissance Office’s NROL-47 payload, encapsulated inside a 5-meter payload fairing, is mated to a Delta IV rocket at Vandenberg Air Force Base’s Space Launch Complex-6 to prep for departure.

High winds hampered last-minute chores for the team readying to launch a Delta IV rocket and its top-secret satellite from Vandenberg Air Force Base on Wednesday, delaying liftoff by a day.

Liftoff of the United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket now is planned for 1 p.m. Thursday from Space Launch Complex-6 on South Base.

Weather was expected to improve significantly for a Thursday countdown to Vandenberg’s first launch of 2018.

The rocket will carry clandestine cargo for the National Reconnaissance Office.

Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at jscully@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.

This story was originally published January 10, 2018 at 10:18 AM with the headline "High winds delay Delta IV rocket launch from Vandenberg."

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