At this time, there is a zero percent chance of not meeting the launch weather criteria for liftoff of the NPP mission. Skies will be mostly clear with good visibility, forecasters say.

At NASA's Space Launch Complex II, loading the hypergolic propellants aboard the Delta II 2nd stage began on Monday and continued Tuesday. Yesterday loading the oxidizer was done and the fuel is being placed aboard.

The next major milestone is the Launch Readiness Review scheduled for Wednesday. Preparations for the terminal countdown will begin on Thursday afternoon when the RP-1 fuel is loaded into the Delta II first stage.

Immediately afterward, at 7:30 p.m. EDT the gantry will be pulled back from around the rocket.

Loading of liquid oxygen into the first stage will start at 4:03 a.m. Eastern. Liftoff for NPP is targeted for 2:48:01 a.m. EDT at the opening of a 9-minute 10-second launch window.