Weather forces 2nd delay for critical space station shipment

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket stands ready for launch with cargo for delivery to the International Space Station on launch complex 41at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015, in Cape Canaveral, F…

But gusty wind interfered after an earlier launch attempt was rained out.

“We were all really looking forward to a good launch tonight, but the ground winds did not cooperate”, Vern Thorp, ULA’s Program Manager for NASA missions said on Friday after the Cygnus launch was cancelled.

As of now, the launch time is expected to kick off at 5:33 pm EST, with a 30-minute window to follow.

“The cargo is safe, the vehicle is safe and we are ready to try another day”, Thorp said. Orbital ATK bought another company’s rocket, the veteran Atlas V, for this supply mission. According to NASA, this will be the first flight of an “enhanced” Cygnus spacecraft, which has a higher payload capacity and new fuel tanks.

“The partnership is changing the way NASA does business, helping build a strong American commercial space industry and freeing the agency to focus on developing the next-generation rocket and spacecraft that will enable humans to travel farther in space than ever before”, a statement from Orbital ATK reads.

Orbital’s last grocery run ended in flames seconds after liftoff past year.

Orbital ATK will continue transporting supplies to the ISS through 2018, with three missions scheduled for 2016.

The six space station astronauts have gone without USA shipments since April with two private companies hired by NASA to replenish the orbiting lab stuck on Earth due to grounded rockets.