The U.S. Air Force 45th Weather Squadron forecasts only a 40% chance of favorable weather conditions on launch day due to possible afternoon and evening thunderstorms and showers along Florida’s Space Coast.  The primary concern for launch day is anvil cloud, cumulus cloud, and thick cloud rule violations.

The WGS-5 satellite is part of a high-capacity communications system for U.S. troops in the field.

The launch window is from 8:27 p.m. EDT to 8:57 p.m. EDT.