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Good evening from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Just a few miles east, a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 411 rocket stands on Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, where it's undergoing final preparations to launch the Solar Orbiter mission at 11:03 p.m. EST. There is a two-hour launch window.

Solar Orbiter builds on the successes of previous missions to study the Sun and its effects on Earth. The mission was developed to study the environment directly surrounding the spacecraft while also observing the Sun, giving scientists a better understanding of how our star can affect the space environment throughout the solar system. The spacecraft also will be the first to provide images of the Sun's poles. The Solar Orbiter mission is planned to last seven years.

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is poised for liftoff tonight from Space Launch Complex 41 at Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. On board is the Solar Orbiter spacecraft, an international collaborative mission between the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA. Countdown clocks across the spaceport are ticking down toward scheduled liftoff at 11:03 p.m. EST. There's a two-hour launch window.

Northrop Grumman scrubbed tonight’s Antares launch after off-nominal readings from a ground support sensor. Northrop Grumman and NASA have set the next launch attempt to no earlier than Feb. 13 at 4:05 p.m. ET, due to an unfavorable weather forecast over the next two days, and time required to address the ground support issue. NASA …

The latest weather forecast is 100% favorable for the launch of Northrop Grumman’s Antares rocket from Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Northrop Grumman’s 13th contracted cargo resupply mission with NASA to the International Space Station will deliver more than 7,500 pounds of science and research, crew supplies and vehicle hardware …

The United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying the Solar Orbiter spacecraft has made its final move on Earth: the short journey from the Vertical Integration Facility to the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Liftoff is targeted for 11:03 p.m. EST on Sunday, Feb. 9. There is a two-hour launch window.

Confined Combustion: The crew continued the experiment using three acrylic samples with a combination of black and transparent baffles to ignite and observe combustion results. This project aims to study flame spread in confined spaces—specifically the interactions between spreading flames and surrounding walls. Flame spread in confined spaces (such as buildings and vehicles) may pose …

Solar Orbiter, an international collaborative mission between the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA, has been given the "go" for launch on Sunday, Feb. 9, aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket. Liftoff from Space Launch Complex 41 at Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station is targeted for 11:03 p.m. EST.

The mission was cleared to proceed during the launch readiness review held Friday morning at the agency's Kennedy Space Center. ESA, NASA and ULA officials evaluated the status of the spacecraft, rocket and ground-based assets needed to support launch. All parties were "go" at the review, according to NASA Launch Director Tim Dunn.

Weather forecasters with the U.S. Air Force's 45th Weather Squadron are predicting an 80 percent chance of favorable conditions for the launch of a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying the Solar Orbiter spacecraft. Liftoff is slated for Sunday, Feb. 9, at 11:03 p.m. EST from Space Launch Complex 41 at Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The primary weather concerns at launch time are potential violation of the cumulus cloud rule and ground winds.

Two televised briefings are planned for today:
1 to 2 p.m. EST: Prelaunch news conference.
2:30 to 3:30 p.m. EST: Science briefing.

Solar Orbiter, an international collaborative mission between the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA, is slated to launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket on Sunday, Feb. 9. Liftoff is targeted for 11:03 p.m. EST from Space Launch Complex 41 at Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Two briefings are planned for Friday, Feb. 7, at the agency's Kennedy Space Center:

1 to 2 p.m. EST: Prelaunch news conference
2:30 to 3:30 p.m. EST: Science briefing