Follow the final hours of the countdown beginning at 3 a.m. EST through the NASA Launch Blog and NASA TV.

Launch is Scrubbed
Today's launch of the NOAA-N Prime spacecraft has been scrubbed for today. Please stand by for details.

The countdown and launch are managed by the NASA Launch Services Program office at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The NOAA-N Prime Mission

The NOAA-N Prime satellite, built for NASA by Lockheed Martin, will improve weather forecasting and monitor environmental events around the world. NOAA-N Prime is the fifth and last in the current series of five polar-orbiting satellites with improved imaging and sounding capabilities.

The satellite will collect meteorological data and transmit the information to NOAA's Satellite and Information Service, which processes the data for input to the National Weather Service for its long-range weather and climate forecasts. Forecasters worldwide also will be able to access the satellite's images and data.

NOAA-N Prime has sensors that will be used in the Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking System to monitor for distress signals around the world.
> View NOAA N-Prime introduction video