NASA's Glory Satellite scheduled for launch March 4

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NASA's Glory spacecraft is scheduled for launch on Friday, March 4. Technical issues with ground support equipment for the Taurus XL launch vehicle led to the scrub of the original Feb. 23 launch attempt. Those issues have been resolved. The March 4 liftoff from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., is targeted for 5:09:43 a.m. EST, in the middle of a 48-second launch window. Spacecraft separation occurs 13 minutes after launch.

Data from the Glory mission will allow scientists to better understand how the sun and tiny atmospheric particles called aerosols affect Earth's climate. The Taurus XL also carries the first of NASA's Educational Launch of Nanosatellite missions. This auxiliary payload contains three small satellites called CubeSats, which were designed and created by university and college students.

NASA Television will carry launch coverage beginning March 4 at 3:30 a.m. EST. This coverage will be streamed live online at:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

Real-time updates of countdown and launch milestones will be posted on NASA's launch blog beginning March 4 at 3:30 a.m. EST at:

http://www.nasa.gov/glory

Source: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center