Dangerously windy again for launch of space station supplies

The lift-off of Orbital ATK’s Cygnus spacecraft from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Friday was postponed “because of wind gusts that exceeded the weather criteria for launching”, a media report quoted NASA as saying in a launch blog. Thursday’s launch attempt was rained out. NASA Television coverage will begin at 4 p.m. Earlier this evening, the 30-minute launch window tomorrow had a 30 percent chance of acceptable conditions. But even the Atlas is no match for Mother Nature.

“The winds were just a couple of knots too high”, said Vern Thorp, mission manager for United Launch Alliance.

It’s another no-go for the first space station supply run in months from the U.S.

Its third cargo mission using the company’s own Antares rocket was destroyed in a launch explosion in October previous year. But it’s since picked up the slack, along with Japan.

Much-needed food is inside Orbital’s cargo carrier, named Cygnus after the swan constellation. Its two suppliers have been grounded for months by launch accidents, and the station pantry needs restocking.

The six space station astronauts have gone without USA shipments since April.

Also aboard the newest Cygnus capsule: clothes, toiletries, spacewalking gear, air-supply tanks and science experiments.