Wind again stalls ISS supply launch

This time, Orbital is using a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket to send the cargo to space on what aims to be its fourth scheduled trip.

“The winds were just a couple of knots too high”, said Vern Thorp, program manager for NASA missions at ULA, in an interview on NASA TV immediately after the launch was postponed.

Friday was the second attempt to launch the spacecraft. Sunday’s weather is slightly better, but still only a 40 percent chance of acceptable conditions. Two private companies hired by NASA to replenish the orbiting lab are stuck on Earth with grounded rockets.

Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko are spending one year in space – twice the typical mission duration – to provide researchers the opportunity to advance their knowledge of the medical, psychological and biomedical challenges faced by astronauts during long-duration spaceflight.

Much-needed food is inside the cargo carrier, named Cygnus after the swan constellation.

Rocket/Payload: A United Launch Alliance Atlas V 401 will launch Orbital ATK’s Cygnus™ spacecraft on the initial leg of its cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Space station program manager Kirk Shireman expects it will take another year to get the pantry full again – provided there are no more accidents.

Displaying a can-do attitude, the team pressed on and rest the launch for Sunday, Dec. 6, with the launch window opening at 4:44 p.m. EST (21:44 p.m. GMT).

The spacecraft was supposed to arrive at the ISS with 7,700 pounds of supplies, experiments and equipment on December 7.

Orbital is also in the race for on station cargo delivery that is due to be awarded in January.