Orbital Launch Rescheduled for Jan. 8

The International Space Station Program and Orbital Sciences Corporation have decided to postpone the launch of the Antares rocket and its Cygnus cargo craft on the first Orbital commercial resupply mission to the space station to no earlier than Wednesday, Jan. 8 due to the forecast of cold temperatures for Tuesday, Jan. 7 at the launch site at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

The forecast for Wednesday also calls for cold temperatures, but the station program and Orbital plan to revisit the weather forecast at the beginning of the week. The main concern with the weather is the cold temperatures coupled with likely precipitation. Orbital says the Antares rocket has a lower limit temperature constraint of 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

Orbital still plans to roll out its Antares rocket to Launch Pad 0A at Wallops on Saturday night because the weather is forecast to be favorable at that time.

The launch time for Wednesday, Jan. 8 is 1:32 p.m. Eastern time. NASA TV coverage of launch will begin at 1 p.m.

A launch on Wednesday will result in a grapple of Cygnus by the Expedition 38 crew aboard the station on Sunday, Jan. 12 at 6:02 a.m. NASA TV coverage will begin at 5 a.m. Coverage of the installation of Cygnus on the Earth-facing port of the Harmony module will begin at 7 a.m.

Cygnus Images

Orbital Sciences' Cygnus Commercial Craft

ISS037-E-018572 (22 Oct. 2013) --- The Orbital Sciences' Cygnus commercial craft begins its relative separation from the International Space Station after three weeks at the station. European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano and NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg, both Expedition 37 flight engineers, were at the controls of the robotics workstation removing Cygnus from the Harmony node then safely releasing it at 7:31 a.m. (EDT) Oct. 22, 2013. On Oct. 23, the Cygnus will fire its engines for the last time at 1:41 p.m. and re-enter Earth's atmosphere for destruction over the Pacific Ocean. A blue and white part of Earth and the blackness of space provide the backdrop for the scene.

Canadarm2 and Cygnus

ISS037-E-018543 (22 Oct. 2013) --- The International Space Station's Canadarm2 prepares to release the Orbital Sciences' Cygnus commercial craft after three weeks at the space station. European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano and NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg, both Expedition 37 flight engineers, were at the controls of the robotics workstation removing Cygnus from the Harmony node then safely releasing it at 7:31 a.m. (EDT) Oct. 22, 2013. On Oct. 23, the Cygnus will fire its engines for the last time at 1:41 p.m. and re-enter Earth's atmosphere for destruction over the Pacific Ocean.

Canadarm2 and Cygnus

ISS037-E-018500 (22 Oct. 2013) --- The International Space Station's Canadarm2 prepares to release the Orbital Sciences' Cygnus commercial craft after three weeks at the space station. European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano and NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg, both Expedition 37 flight engineers, were at the controls of the robotics workstation removing Cygnus from the Harmony node then safely releasing it at 7:31 a.m. (EDT) Oct. 22, 2013. On Oct. 23, the Cygnus will fire its engines for the last time at 1:41 p.m. and re-enter Earth's atmosphere for destruction over the Pacific Ocean. Earth's horizon and the blackness of space provide the backdrop for the scene.

Cygnus Gets Thumbs Up From Station Astronaut Luca Parmitano

ISS037-E-016758 (21 Oct. 2013) --- European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano, Expedition 37 flight engineer, gives a thumbs up signal after closing the hatch between the International Space Station’s Harmony node and the Orbital Sciences’ Cygnus commercial cargo spacecraft in preparation for its release after completing a successful demonstration mission to the space station. Cygnus delivered 1,300 pounds of gear on Sept. 29 when it arrived and was captured by Canadarm2 and berthed to the Harmony node

Cygnus Captured by Station Crew

ISS037-E-003839 (29 Sept. 2013) --- This medium close-up view, photographed by one of the Expedition 37 crew members, shows the first Cygnus commercial cargo spacecraft built by Orbital Sciences Corp. attached to the end of the robotic arm (AKA Canadarm2) on the International Space Station after the two spacecraft converged at 7:01 a.m. EDT on Sept. 29, 2013.

ISS037-E-003842 (29 Sept. 2013) --- This medium close-up view, photographed by one of the Expedition 37 crew members, shows the first Cygnus commercial cargo spacecraft built by Orbital Sciences Corp. attached to the end of the robotic arm (AKA Canadarm2) on the International Space Station after the two spacecraft converged at 7:01 a.m. EDT on Sept. 29, 2013.