Atlas V Launch with Cygnus OA-4 (Replays)

The Cygnus spacecraft is back in orbit for its return to flight mission to the International Space Station, coming back from last October’s Antares launch failure. Orbital ATK’s resupply spacecraft lifted off on Sunday atop an Atlas V rocket as the first in a pair of interim missions contracted to United Launch Alliance until the modified Antares rocket will be ready for flight using a new main engine system.

Atlas V blasted off from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 21:44 UTC, heading into a dense cloud cover over the Space Coast as it made its north-easterly departure. Flying along a coast-hugging trajectory, Atlas V was widely visible from the East Coast of the United States as it fired its massive RD-180 engine on the first stage, making a burn of a little over four minutes before handing off to Centaur for a firing of nearly 14 minutes. Cygnus was sent on its way 21 minutes after liftoff, setting sail for the International Space Station where it will arrive on Wednesday for the delivery of three and a half metric tons of supplies.