The July 24 launch of a robot ship to deliver provisions to the International Space Station has been postponed "for a few days", space transport firm Arianespace said Friday.
A company statement said additional time was needed for "complementary verifications" on the Ariane 5 ES rocket that will take the craft aloft.
A new launch date is expected to be announced next week.
The Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) dubbed "Georges Lemaitre" is the last of five supply vessels Europe was scheduled to provide to the ISS.
Like its predecessors, the freighter will blast off from Kourou, French Guiana.
The size of a double-decker bus, the cylindrical ATV modules are launched by a heavy Ariane 5 ES rocket, after which they use onboard motors and starlight navigation to rendezvous and dock with the ISS.
They bring food, water, fuel, oxygen, experiments and treats for the six crew members, and provide much-appreciated additional living space.
At the end of a mission usually lasting several months, they undock from the ISS and burn up in the atmosphere in a controlled de-orbit.
The fifth ship, which will carry the heaviest cargo yet with over 2.6 tonnes (6,700 pounds) of dry goods, 850 litres of potable water and three tonnes of fuel, is named after the Belgian cosmologist who fathered the concept of the Big Bang that created the Universe.
After the last ATV flight, the ISS will be resupplied by Russia's Progress freighter and fledgling US private contractors.
GMT 12:31 2017 Sunday ,24 December
SpaceX launches 10 more satellites for IridiumGMT 18:48 2017 Tuesday ,12 December
Bitcoin makes muted stock exchange debut at $15,000GMT 18:19 2017 Saturday ,09 December
France to allow trading of securities via blockchainGMT 07:39 2017 Thursday ,16 November
Cygnus cargo ship arrives at space stationGMT 17:49 2017 Sunday ,12 November
Aircraft overhead forces Orbital to cancel cargo launchGMT 19:18 2017 Wednesday ,01 November
Sony revives robot pet dogGMT 10:31 2017 Saturday ,28 October
Saudi Arabia Becomes First Country to Grant Citizenship to RobotGMT 17:46 2017 Saturday ,21 October
Spacewalkers fix robotic arm in time to grab next cargo shipMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor