Rocket carries U.S. supplies to International Space Station

Mark’s twin brother, Scott, is more than halfway through a yearlong tour of duty on the space station – and he may well read at least one of the books to kids on Earth as part of a project called “Story Time From Space”. This was the 60th ULA Atlas V launch using Orbital ATK-built composite structures. A Cygnus last reached the station in July 2014. Ecstatic launch controllers applauded, shook hands and hugged one another.

“I’m guessing that Santa’s sleigh is somewhere inside the Cygnus and they’re probably excited about their stockings coming up, too”, Frank Culbertson, Orbital ATK space systems group president, said during a news conference before the launch.

United Launch Alliance manager Vernon Thorp couldn’t help but notice all the number fours in Sunday’s launch equation.

The launch was rescheduled for 4:44 p.m. Sunday.

“It is our future”, said Space station program manager Kirk Shireman, while acknowledging the difficulties in sustaining a space mission, reports Investment Underground.

Orbital ATK has contracted a second Cygnus to fly on an Atlas in March 2016 on the OA-6 mission.

Launch Weather Office Clay Flinn briefed the Orbital ATK CRS-4 launch team in advance of fueling the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. A SpaceX Dragon capsule also fell into the ocean when its Falcon 9 rocket exploded last June. But it has since picked up the slack, with another resupply mission scheduled just before Christmas, and Japan has chipped in as well.

The enhanced Cygnus spacecraft that launched today incorporated numerous planned upgrades of the vehicle including an extended pressurized cargo module (PCM), which enables the spacecraft to carry over 50 percent more cargo than the previous version. Its two suppliers are grounded because of launch accidents dating back to 2014, and the space station pantry needs restocking. This is its first station mission. The cargo ship is loaded with 7,300 pounds (3,300 kilograms) of food, science experiments, and other supplies.

Supplies at the station have been running low following several failed supplied runs. Normally used for hefty satellite launches, it is the mighty successor to the Atlas used to put John Glenn into orbit in 1962.

The six space station astronauts managed to photograph the rising capsule from their windows as both craft made their way over the Atlantic. The vehicle will arrive at the space station on Thursday, and is likely to deliver roughly 4 tons of supplies, like a life sciences facility, Microsoft HoloLens sets, microsatellite launcher and other tools.