UPDATE: All of the launches scheduled this week were scrubbed because of weather issues. The rocket launch has now been scheduled for Saturday, June 24, between 9:07 p.m. and 9:22 p.m.

After seven aborted missions, NASA is going to try again to launch a rocket that will generate colorful artificial clouds in the night sky over the Atlantic coast as part of a study on how air moves in the upper atmosphere.

People along the Atlantic coast from New York to North Carolina may be able to see colorful artificial clouds in the night sky as part of a NASA rocket launch. This picture shows the ampule doors on the rocket payload open during testing at the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. (Berit Bland | NASA)

The launch is planned for Friday night, sometime between 9:05 p.m. and 9:20 p.m., weather permitting.

(UPDATE: NASA has scrubbed the launch for Friday night, because of cloudy weather. The launch was rescheduled for Sunday night, June 17, but it was scrubbed because of strong winds. The launch has now been rescheduled for Monday, June 19, between 9:06 p.m. and 9:21 p.m.)

Heavy cloud cover has been the primary factor in the space agency's decision to scrub the launch on previous occasions during the past two weeks. High winds also played a role, and on one occasion small boats headed into a restricted area near the launch site, at the Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia's eastern shore.

If the rocket launch is successful, multi-colored clouds may be visible along the coastline from New York City, along the Jersey Shore and in coastal areas down to North Carolina, NASA officials said.

NASA's mission calls for the launch of a suborbital rocket, officially known as a Terrier-Improved Malemute sounding rocket, designed to test a new system to support studies of the earth's upper atmosphere. About 4 to 5 minutes after the launch, NASA said, the rocket will deploy 10 canisters -- each about the size of a soda can -- into the air, about 6 to 12 miles away from the rocket.

The canisters will release red and blue-green vapors, forming artificial clouds that will allow scientists on the ground to track particle motions high up in the atmosphere. The colors will be created by the interaction among three chemicals -- barium, cupric-oxide and strontium, according to a report by the Washington Post, which says the chemicals will not pose a hazard to people along the Atlantic coast.

In order to view the artificial clouds, NASA has set up cameras at two ground stations -- one at Wallops in Virginia and one in Duck, N.C. The agency says it needs to have clear skies at one of the two stations in order for the rocket to launch. During the two latest launch attempts, Monday night and Tuesday night, clouds obscured the viewing areas where the cameras were set up, so those missions were scrubbed.

Launch update: Clouds are preventing the launch of the Terrier-Improved Malemute, next attempt is Saturday, June 24 from 9:07-9:22 p.m. — NASA Wallops (@NASA_Wallops) June 20, 2017

No launch attempts were planned for Wednesday or Thursday night because the weather conditions were not good enough, NASA said in a launch update posted on its website.

(Update: The agency hoped to get the rocket off the ground over the weekend, but Friday's attempt was scrubbed because of clouds and Sunday's attempt was scrubbed because of high winds. The launches rescheduled for Monday, June 19, and Tuesday, June 20, were also scrubbed because of bad weather. The launch date now has been scheduled for Saturday, June 24.)

HOW TO VIEW THE LAUNCH

If you don't have a chance to go outside, or if the skies in our region are cloudy, you can watch the rocket launch on a live video stream. Live coverage is scheduled to start at 8:30 p.m. Saturday on the Wallops Ustream site. NASA also plans a Facebook Live session starting at 8:50 p.m. on its NASA's Wallops Flight Facility Facebook page.

Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality or like him on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.