The Atlas II Centaur rocket carrying GOES-L is revealed as the tower rolls back before launch.

The Atlas II/Centaur rocket carrying the NASA/NOAA weather satellite GOES-L is revealed as the tower rolls back before launch. The primary objective of the GOES-L is to provide a full capability satellite in an on-orbit storage condition, in order to assure NOAA continuity in services from a two-satellite constellation. Launch services are being provided by the 45th Space Wing. Liftoff is targeted to occur at the opening of a launch window extending from 2:27 5:53 a.m. EDT, a duration of three hours and 27 minutes. Launch will occur from Pad A at Complex 36 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station