Launch of the Atlas V is scheduled for Thursday evening.
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NASA was intending to send its first shipment of critical supplies in nearly eight months to the International Space Station (ISS), when thick clouds and rainy weather prevented the launch of an unmanned Atlas rocket.
After launch, it should only take about 21 minutes for the Atlas V rocket to bring Cygnus to its expected orbit and set it loose, on its way to the Space Station, United Launch Alliance said.
Rocket/Payload: A United Launch Alliance Atlas V 401 will launch Orbital ATK’s Cygnus™ spacecraft on the initial leg of its cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
Orbital ATK now holds a contract with NASA to fly 62,000 lbs. of cargo to the station over the course of 10 mission through 2018. Despite the setback of the accident, Orbital said it will be able to fulfill its contract with NASA, partly by moving up the timetable for upgrading its rockets.
Named “S.S. Deke Slayton II” after the Mercury 7 astronaut and commander of the Apollo-Soyuz mission in 1975, today’s launch would have been the first for the enhanced Cygnus, which carries 53 percent more cargo weight. The next available window will be Friday at 5:33 pm ET.
Launch Notes: OA-4 will mark the 60th launch of the Atlas V and the 30th launch in the 401 configuration.
NASA was poised to launch more than 7,300 pounds of equipment and supplies to the International Space Station on Thursday, but poor weather conditions forced it to scrub the launch. The SpaceX company also remains grounded. The last successful US cargo mission to the station was the previous Dragon mission in April. SpaceX, the other supplier, suffered a launch failure in June.
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Sophisticated science experiments, ready-made food, a jet pack for spacewalking astronauts and even a satellite made by elementary school students are all on board. Orbital ATK plans to return its Antares rockets to flight in 2016.
