ORBITAL ATK OA-9 CARGO MISSION TO ISS, May 21, 2018, Wallops Island, Va, 4:39 am ET (webcast)

UPDATE, MAY 20:  The launch remains scheduled for tomorrow, May 21, at 4:39 am ET, but the weather forecast has deteriorated somewhat to 65% “go.”  NASA TV coverage begins 4:00 am ET.

UPDATE, MAY 18:  The launch has been postponed to May 21 at 4:39 am ET due to weather and to allow for more pre-launch inspections.  The weather on May 21 is 80 % “go.”

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Orbital ATK will launch its next cargo mission to the International Space Station (ISS) from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) at Wallops Island, VA on May 20, 2018.   The Cygnus spacecraft, which is named the S.S. J.R. Thompson, will be launched on Orbital ATK’s Antares rocket.

The 5-minute launch window opens at 5:04 am ET.  NASA TV will broadcast the launch beginning at 4:30 am ET.

This is the ninth ISS mission for the company: OA-9.

The backup launch date is May 21 at 4:38 am ET.

If the launch takes place on May 20, the Cygnus will arrive at ISS on May 24, with capture at 5:20 am ET.  NASA TV coverage will begin at 3:45 am ET.  It will remain at the ISS until July 15.