Unique launch planned on Wednesday at Cape Canaveral

LAKE MARY, Fla. - NASA’s Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) satellite is scheduled to launch Wednesday, Oct. 9, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

ICON will be air-launched from a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket, carried by the company’s L-1011 aircraft, Stargazer. The launch is currently scheduled for 9:30 p.m. EDT.  Weather officials from the U.S. Air Force 45th Space Wing predict a 40 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for launch. Primary concerns are cumulus clouds and lightning.