United Launch Alliance Atlas V Launch Set For 5:33 pm Today

Poor wind conditions grounded a critical space station delivery for NASA on Friday, the second day in a row the rocket launch has been delayed by weather.

Liftoff of the ULA Atlas 5 rocket is slated for 5:55 p.m. EST (2255 GMT) on Thursday from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

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. Cygnus is loaded with more than 3.3 tonnes of scientific equipment, water and food for the ISS crew.

As for now, the company is being extremely cautious with its upcoming launch launch – hence the delay yesterday.

When the rocket does blast off, it will mark the 60th launch of an Atlas V rocket and the 30th launch of the rocket’s 401 configuration, but it’s the first time this type of rocket will ever launch a cargo ship to the International Space Station.

According to the latest weather forecast from the United States Air Force 45th Weather Squadron, there is a 30% percent chance overall of acceptable weather conditions for Saturday’s launch. The launch is part of the contract signed between NASA and Orbital a defence and space exploration company.

This is an important launch for Orbital after its failed launch in October of previous year, when its Antares rocket exploded 15 seconds from launch, turning the cargo into a fireball and damaging Wallops Island’s launchpad.

The other private company hired by NASA to deliver supplies, SpaceX, also remains stuck on Earth, at least until next month.

Orbital plans to launch another of United Launch Alliance’s Atlas rockets in March, then return its own Antares rocket to flight from Virginia in May.

A successful launch would restart the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s effort to commercialize resupply missions to the ISS.

Oribtal will be using a new Cygnus spacecraft capsule which can carry 25% more cargo than its predecessor and has been built specifically by Orbital to meet its commercial commitment to NASA.