Bad weather delays return of Cygnus spacecraft to International Space Station

An unmanned Atlas rocket stood ready to lift off at sunset with 7,400 pounds of supplies for the International Space Station, representing the first USA delivery in months.

The rocket is created to carry the Orbital ATK’s uncrewed Cygnus spacecraft to the International Space Station.

Friday’s weather forecast isn’t much better, only 30 percent favorable. Shortly after that failure, Orbital purchased an Atlas 5 launch from ULA to fulfill its contractual requirements to NASA to deliver cargo to the ISS. Orbital ATK bought another company’s rocket, the veteran Atlas V, for this supply mission. The SpaceX company also remains grounded.

A rocket launch to supply cargo to the International Space Station (ISS) by American aerospace manufacturer Orbital ATK has been pushed back due to adverse weather conditions.

If no other supplies reach the station, the crew will hit reserve supplies of food in April 2016, NASA said.

The launch of a private spacecraft scheduled for Thursday has been aborted due to poor weather.

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. The ban does not affect commercial and civilian government customers like the USA space agency, but it will keep Orbital from offering Antares as launcher for US military satellites.

Orbital plans another shipment via an Atlas in March, followed by the return of Antares in May with a new type of Russian-built engine.

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

The 4-inch cube houses a camera for Earth picture-taking, as well as a crucifix and religious medal blessed by Pope Francis.

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