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The countdown has resumed. There is one more hold coming up at the T-4 minute mark.

The ELaNa X payload comprises three Poly Picosatellite Orbital Deployers, or P-PODs, containing a total of four CubeSats. These four small satellites represent three separate missions known as ExoCube, GRIFEX and FIREBIRD-II (A and B). Learn more about each of these missions with the ELaNa X fact sheet. For more about the ELaNa project, visit …

This is a built-in hold lasting 20 minutes.

The rocket's engines are being put through a series of movements, called "slews," to verify they're able to steer properly. Slew checks begin with the second stage and finish with the first stage.

There is one hour to go until the three-minute launch window opens at 9:20 a.m. EST. The countdown is proceeding smoothly toward liftoff of the Delta II rocket carrying NASA's Soil Moisture Active Passive observatory.

Command receiver/decoder checks with the Western Range are coming up next. This is a routine test verifying the communication links between the vehicle and the Range Safety Office, which would need the capability to send destruct commands to the rocket's flight termination system in the unlikely event the vehicle strayed off course.

The Delta II rocket is fully fueled at this point following completion of LOX loading.

The liquid oxygen being pumped into the rocket's first stage is cryogenic, meaning it's chilled to extremely cold temperatures. As the propellant warms, small amounts of it boil away and vent from the side of the rocket. This puff of gaseous oxygen is visible in the image above, captured from NASA TV. Valves will periodically …

Why aren't winds considered part of the weather forecast? According to NASA TV Commentator George Diller, winds actually are a flight dynamics concern. Upper level wind criteria are determined by United Launch Alliance engineers. The winds a vehicle encounters during flight through the area of maximum aerodynamic pressure, or max Q, can have an impact …

Vandenberg Air Force Base 30th Operations Support Squadron Launch Weather Officer Lt. Johnny Martin provided a weather update to NASA Launch Manager Tim Dunn and the NASA and United Launch Alliance SMAP launch team a few minutes ago. There is a 100 percent chance of favorable launch weather with no range safety launch commit criteria …