SMAP Awaits Liftoff; Countdown Coverage Begins Now

NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive observatory is nearly ready for its ride into Earth orbit aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket. Countdown activities are in progress at Space Launch Complex 2 on California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base. Liftoff is slated for 6:20 a.m. PST, 9:20 a.m. EST, the opening of a three-minute launch opportunity. Forecasters predict an 90 percent chance of favorable conditions at launch time, with the potential for thick clouds as the main concern.

SMAP is a three-year mission to study and map the moisture locked in Earth’s soil. Soil moisture has an important role in our lives here on the ground — it regulates plant growth and has impacts on weather, emergency management and more.

Also flying on the Delta II today is Educational Launch of Nanosatellite X, or ELaNa X, an auxiliary payload containing four CubeSats. They’ll be deployed from the rocket’s second stage after SMAP is released.

Since today’s blog originates from Hangar AE at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, times will be given in Eastern from now through the end of live coverage.