Minotaur I rocket launch scrubbed for third time this week

WALLOPS ISLAND

The launch of the Minotaur I rocket has been scrubbed for a third time this week.

To take advantage of better weather, officials at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport had moved up the planned launch of the $60 million rocket to 7:35 tonight, delayed until 10:45 p.m. and then scrubbed the launch with less than three minutes before takeoff because of a weak signal between mission control and the rocket.

The launch of the Minotaur I rocket, which carries several satellites, had been delayed twice because of storms on Tuesday and Thursday. It was delayed earlier tonight because of some equipment problems, but repaired by about 9:30 p.m. and the launch countdown restarted.

Another attempt is not planned for Saturday.

For updates on the launch, follow NASA_Wallops on Twitter. To watch the launch video, go to the NASA Wallops Web site: http://sites.wff.nasa.gov/webcast/

Staff writer Lauren King and Brian Clark contributed to this story.