Orbital ATK resupply mission successfully launched

Orbital ATK’s CRS Orb-4 launched successfully from Space Launch Complex 41 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

• Cygnus spacecraft took flight atop a ULA-produced Atlas V rocket and was packed with more than 3,200 kilograms of crew supplies, hardware and scientific experiments.
• Purpose: For commercial resupply services
• Benefit: Successful launch would resume the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s commercial cargo flights to the station as a result ending its dependence on Russian and Japanese rockets.

Key points:

• Orbital is using Atlas V rockets from a joint venture(JV) of Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin Corp.