An unmanned Atlas V rocket launched successfully from Cape Canaveral Tuesday morning, carrying a Cygnus cargo ship containing supplies for the International Space Station.
The Cygnus ship is named for John Glenn, who rode into orbit on one of the original Atlas rockets in 1962, Florida Today reported. The SS John Glenn separated from the Atlas V 21 minutes after its launch, carrying over 7,600 pounds of food, supplies and experiments for those aboard the ISS.
The rocket is part of a $3.1 billion United Launch Alliance contract that will include 10 flights. This flight is the seventh. The SS John Glenn is expected to rendezvous with the Space Station on Saturday after a Russian Soyuz spacecraft launching on Thursday has time to reach the station, according to Space.com.
"It was a beautiful launch," ULA program manager for commercial missions Vern Thorp said, Florida Today reported. "Looks like we nailed the orbit again."
Research materials aboard the Cygnus include a plant growth chamber to test whether Space Station inhabitants could grow their own food during future extended stays aboard the station, and a drug company’s test of a chemotherapy drug that targets cancer cells with antibodies, Floriday Today reported.
The cargo also included Easter baskets for the crew.
"The crew, of course, is always very anxious to see what comes up in the Cygnus spacecraft," said Orbital ATK’s Frank Culbertson, who is a former astronaut, Florida Today reported.
The launch was originally scheduled last month, but a technical issue forced a delay.
Twitter fans celebrated a successful launch.