NASA scrubs launch of SS Kalpana Chawla Cygnus spacecraft just 2 minutes before liftoff

The launch of Northrop Grumman’s 14th rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS) has been scrubbed due to an unknown issue with a component of ground support equipment. 

The Cygnus spacecraft, named after late Indian-American astronaut Kalpana Chawla, was scheduled to be launched from the NASA Wallops Flight Facility on October 2 at 07:08 IST, however, scrubbed just about 2 minutes and 40 seconds before liftoff.

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“Tonight’s launch attempt for @NorthropGrumman’s Antares rocket to send the #Cygnus resupply craft to the @Space_Station was scrubbed about 2 minutes and 40 seconds before liftoff due to an unknown problem with a component of ground support equipment,” NASA tweeted with a video.

The Antares rocket carrying the Cygnus spacecraft with almost 8,000 pounds of cargo and supplies is now set to launch on October 3 at 03:15 IST, NASA informed. 

The spacecraft, named as SS Kalpana Chawla, will reach the ISS on October 4. Expedition 63 Commander Chris Cassidy of NASA will grapple Cygnus and Flight Engineer Ivan Vagner of Roscosmos will back him up. 

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Once secured, mission control in Houston will send ground commands for the station’s robotic arm to rotate and install it on the bottom of the station’s Unity module, NASA said.

Cygnus will serve as a temporary scientific expansion to the ISS and perform Station orbit adjustment manoeuvres or burns. It is scheduled to remain at the station till mid-December.