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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Orbital ATK's Cygnus spacecraft was ready for its journey to the International Space Station Friday, but mother nature didn't cooperate.
The spacecraft was scheduled to launch at 3:55 p.m. Friday from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Base in Florida, with NASA providing a livestream of the event online. The countdown was started several times, only to be thwarted by wind.
Dang! Exploration takes tenacious patience. A lot of work for the team now tucking it all away. Hopefully tomorrow! Good night from 1 AM.
— Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) December 4, 2015
Friday was the second attempt to launch the spacecraft. It was originally slated to launch Thursday afternoon, but it was scrubbed due to inclement weather. The next chance for Cygnus to depart is 3:10 p.m. Saturday. When Cygnus does launch, it will be the fourth time Utah-based Orbital ATK has carried out an ISS delivery mission for NASA.
The spacecraft was supposed to arrive at the ISS with 7,700 pounds of supplies, experiments and equipment on Dec. 7. Just in time for the holidays, the Cygnus spacecraft is also carrying presents for the crew from their families.
Robotic arm on @Space_Station set for arrival of the #Cygnus spacecraft, launching today: https://t.co/2B8D0zok5Dpic.twitter.com/oEWfPIHhEL
— NASA (@NASA) December 3, 2015NASA officials said Cygnus will stay attached to the ISS for about a month, taking about 3,000 pounds of trash with it when it detaches. Upon reentry into Earth's atmosphere, the spacecraft will disintegrate.
Check out the @OrbitalATK mission profile for the #Cygnus launch and @Space_Station arrival. pic.twitter.com/fdmcejkhqh
— Intl. Space Station (@Space_Station) December 3, 2015Orbital ATK will continue transporting supplies to the ISS through 2018, with three missions scheduled for 2016. Over the course of its current contract with NASA, the company will carry 62,000 pounds of cargo to the ISS during 10 missions.
"The partnership is changing the way NASA does business, helping build a strong American commercial space industry and freeing the agency to focus on developing the next-generation rocket and spacecraft that will enable humans to travel farther in space than ever before," a statement from Orbital ATK reads.
