Cygnus spacecraft launch to international space station delayed again
- US schedules Atlas V launch of Cygnus spacecraft later this month
- Britain's May to launch EU divorce proceedings on March 29
The launch of the OA-7 Cygnus cargo spacecraft carrying new supplies to the International Space Station (ISS) has been postponed again, the United Launch Alliance (ULA) has announced.
"While completing testing for a ground support hydraulic condition discovered during prelaunch testing, a different issue with a booster hydraulic line was observed. The team is developing a plan to resolve the issue and a new launch date will be determined. The Atlas V and Cygnus spacecraft remain secure," ULA said in a Wednesday statement.
 |
Earlier this week, ULA said that the launch was planned for March 27. Previously, it was set for March 24, after having been postponed from the original scheduled date of March 19.
One of the previous delays was caused by booster hydraulic issues discovered during pre-launch testing. Last week, ULA said that its team needed additional time to replace and retest a first stage hudraulic component.
The Cygnus spacecraft is supposed to launch atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in the US state of Florida.
Russian-made RD-180 rocket engines power the first stage of the two-stage Atlas V, which is supplied by ULA, a joint venture between defense and aerospace contractors Lockheed Martin and Boeing.
