GEORGE DILLER: We are on schedule for the launch of NASA's Space Technology 5, or ST5, aboard an Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL rocket.
The L-1011 carrier aircraft is at the ramp preparing to taxi to the end of the runway for a 5:04 a.m. Pacific Time departure.
The L-1011 will proceed to a point approximately 145 miles west-northwest of Vandenberg Air Force Base,
which is about 100 miles due west of the Monterey peninsula. The deployment and launch of the Pegasus rocket is targeted to occur at 6:02 a.m. Pacific Time.
Today's launch window extends until 7:20 Pacific Time this morning, and is one hour, 22 minutes and 21 seconds in duration.
The weather forecast for today is acceptable, with a zero-percent chance of not meeting the launch weather criteria.
The conditions in the drop box where the Pegasus rocket will be deployed calls for ceilings and visibilities unlimited.