Earlier Wednesday, officials had expressed concern about weather conditions, saying the launch could be delayed.

CNN: Navy missile hits dying spy satellite, says Pentagon

Thus, boost-phase interception requires very prompt detection of a missile launch -- which adverse cloud and weather conditions can make difficult or impossible.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Multilateral madness

Tommy Franks, Central Command commander, was given essentially a 48-hour window to launch this attack at his discretion, based on the conditions he saw at the ground, when he felt the timing would be absolutely right.

CNN: Jamie McIntyre on the A-Day strikes

The American Aerospace Medical Association Commercial Spaceflight Working Group published a document in 2009 saying that most individuals with "well controlled medical conditions" could withstand the acceleration forces involved in the launch and landing of a commercial spaceflight.

BBC: What are the health risks of space travel?

Investors quickly took that as a signal that the Fed stood ready to launch another round of stimulus or quantitative easing (Q3) should economic conditions worsen.

FORBES: Ray of Optimism: Energy, Durable-Goods, And Insurance Stocks Are Irresistibly Inexpensive

Designed to operate in fog, heavy weather conditions and 5ft (1.5m) waves, the launch has a sprint speed of 20 knots (23mph) and includes a depth sounder and radar.

BBC: Breydon Water: Broads Authority launches new patrol boat

But Opel has had quite a head start on Ford, which now will have to launch into its own European turnaround plan, at a time when market conditions are even worse than what Opel originally faced.

FORBES: Now, An Ugly Mess For Ford In Europe

Weather conditions had been closely checked in the final hours before the latest launch.

BBC: South Korea rocket 'explodes' moments after take-off