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Cape Canaveral Weather Forces Atlas V Scrub

Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., (Oct. 4, 2017) A ULA Atlas V rocket carrying the NROL-52 mission stands poised for launch. Photo: ULA.
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., (Oct. 4, 2017) A ULA Atlas V rocket carrying the NROL-52 mission stands poised for launch. Photo: ULA.

An early morning launch attempt at Cape Canaveral has been scrubbed due to weather. United Launch Alliance was poised to send a classified surveillance satellite into orbit on an Atlas V rocket. Ground winds prevented Thursday morning's launch attempt.

The mission is for the National Reconnaissance Office, a Department of Defense agency that designs, builds and operates satellites for US intelligence interests.

ULA says it will try to launch again Friday. That could mean a busy weekend on the Space Coast, with SpaceX also set to launch a commercial communications satellite this weekend. However, weather could delay both of those launches as Tropical Storm Nate moves into the area.

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Brendan covers space news for WMFE, everything from rocket launches to the latest scientific discoveries in our universe. He hosts WMFE's weekly radio show and podcast "Are We There Yet?" which explores human space exploration. Brendan is a native Floridian, born and raised in Broward County. He moved to Central Florida in 2005 to attend the University of Central Florida. He began working at WMFE as a college intern where he discovered his love for public radio.