A minor leak involving rocket propellant prompted a delay in Friday’s planned launch of a satellite from the Central Coast.
The United Launch Alliance was preparing to send up an Atlas V rocket carrying the WorldView-4 satellite from Vandenberg Air Force Base Friday morning. The problem prompted what’s being called a 24 hour delay, with the next liftoff opportunity a 14 minute window beginning at 11:30 Saturday morning.
WorldView-4 is an earth observation satellite equipped with state of the art lenses and electronics, with the craft’s costs including the launch estimated to be more than $800 million dollars.
If the liftoff takes place as planned, it should be visible along much of the Central and South Coasts.