Space station supply rocket launch rescheduled for Friday

This time, Orbital ATK is using United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket for the launch, while it upgrades its Antares rocket, which failed due to a problem with its reconditioned Ukrainian engine.

NASA was intending to send its first shipment of critical supplies in nearly eight months to the International Space Station (ISS), when thick clouds and rainy weather prevented the launch of an unmanned Atlas rocket.

Should the spacecraft take flight on Friday, the ISS will receive about 7,300 pounds of supplies including; experiments, food, and other necessities for astronauts. Orbital ATK bought another company’s rocket, the veteran Atlas V, for this supply mission.

“It appears that maybe Mother Nature has played tricks on us once again”, reported NASA launch commentator Mike Curie.

Pushed as long as it could, postponing the launch three times from its initial 5:55 p.m. planned time, until finally giving in to the bad weather at 6:14 p.m., 11 minutes before the final chance.

Dulles, Virginia-based Orbital had completed two flights under its original $1.9 billion NASA contract, delivering about 8,400 pounds (3,800 kg) pounds of a promised 22 tons of supplies, when Antares faltered on October 28, 2014.

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

The first Cygnus spacecraft to visit the International Space Station.

Conditions tomorrow are only predicted to be slightly better than they were this evening – with just a 30 percent chance of favorable conditions to support launch.

A spacesuit and some water filters are among the key hardware on board, along with science experiments, food, clothes and probably Christmas presents for some of the station’s six-person crew, including a pair participating in a yearlong mission: American Scott Kelly and Russian Mikhail Kornienko.

Orbital ATK competed with SpaceX to transport astronauts to the ISS under its contract with NASA.