Valentine’s Day Cygnus cargo ship launch to space station deferred by high breezes

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There will no Valentine’s Day launch to the International Space Station today, NASA says.

The launch of a Northrop Grumman Antares rocket carrying an uncrewed Cygnus cargo ship loaded up with vital supplies — including, indeed, some chocolate, cheese and different treats for astronauts — has been postponed at least 24 hours. The new launch time will be 3:21 p.m. EST (2021 GMT) on Saturday (Feb. 15) from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Wallops Island, Virginia.

“Northrop Grumman and NASA have rescheduled today’s Antares launch attempt for the CRS-13 Cygnus resupply mission due to strong upper level winds,” NASA officials said in an update today. “The Antares rocket and Cygnus spacecraft remain healthy.”

Cygnus NG-13 will deliver 7,600 lbs. (3,400 kilograms) of experiment gear, nourishment and different supplies to the three-man Expedition 62 group on the space station when it lands one week from now. Packed among those provisions are some delectable pieces for the space travelers, including three sorts of hard cheese (by special request), as well as Lindt chocolates (chili chocolate and sea salt flavor) and other candy just in time for Valentine’s Day weekend.

“Rocket, check. Chocolate, check. Upper level winds? Unfortunately, check,” officials with NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility said in a Twitter post.

On the off chance that all works out in a good way, the Cygnus rocket will land at the International Space Station early Tuesday (Feb. 18), NASA authorities said.

Northrop Grumman and NASA at first attempted to launch the Cygnus cargo mission on Sunday (Feb. 9), however prematurely ended it in the final minutes because of a ground sensor glitch. The dismal climate at the launch site prevented consequent endeavors consistently.

Saturday’s climate forecast looks pristine, with an 85% chance of positive conditions for launch, NASA authorities said.

Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Stats Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.

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