Photos: Atlas 5 returns to pad for night owl launch

Watch the pre-launch news conference held Monday, April 17 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center to preview liftoff of the Orbital ATK commercial Cygnus OA-7 cargo ship aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket for the International Space Station.

NASA’s acting administrator said Tuesday he does not expect Russian cosmonauts to start launching to the International Space Station on U.S. commercial crew vehicles until next year. A proposed agreement with Russia to ensure the space station is always staffed with an international crew is awaiting U.S. government approval.

Taking delivery of the Atlas 5 rocket that will boost an advanced weather observatory into space next month, United Launch Alliance and the Air Force are back at work following disruptions from Hurricane Matthew.