Atlas V rocket launch expected this morning

Crews will try again to launch an Atlas V rocket Saturday morning, after a technical issue kept the rocket on the pad Friday.

This issue was a mandatory range tracking beacon -- it's essentially how the launch team is able to track the rocket. Mission directors said they were seeing fluctuations in the signal and it's mandatory they are able to keep track of the rocket.

The teams didn't have enough time to look at the issue and even after setting a new launch time towards the end of the 20 minute window, they were forced to call a scrub.

This is set for a two-year mission.

The Radiation Belt Storm Probes are tough. They are designed to fly and work in the hazardous regions of space closest to Earth gathering data on the Van Allen radiation belts where high energy protons and electrons can be dangerous to people and robotic explorers.

The belts can change as the Sun changes with solar eruptions, and Earth's space weather can be affected. Fluctuations in space weather can cripple satellites, shutdown power grids, GPS and television signals.

The probes will study the belts and help scientists better predict space weather, and protect technology on the ground.

The new time is set for Saturday at 4:07 a.m. with another 20 minute window. Weather conditions are currently set at 60 percent chance of good conditions at launch time.

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