Tuesday, Maybe?

Their kingdom for a refueling aircraft! That may have been what scientists at Vandenberg AFB in California were saying this weekend, lamenting the delay in the launch of the CloudSat and CALIPSO satellites due to a matter not of technology or weather, but of logistics.

The good news is that there's nothing wrong with the launch vehicle, or either of the satellites on the pad. The bad news is, that for lack of a refueling tanker, a radar tracking C-130 couldn't fly on Sunday or Monday. That meant the CALIPSO and CloudSat payloads were unable to get off the ground aboard their Boeing Delta II rocket... the fourth time in less than four days they've been stranded.

The two satellites have an important mission... once they are launched. They'll both examine the formation of clouds and weather patterns. Scientists hope to gain a better understanding of rain patterns and the origins of weather... if they can just get these birds into space.

NASA reports the next launch attempt will be just after 6 am EDT Tuesday morning. We'll keep our fingers crossed.

FMI: www.nasa.gov