Following past year’s rocket failure, Orbital ATK has succeeded in mounting a second supply mission very quickly after collaborating with the US launch provider United Launch Alliance (ULA). The ULA was the provider of Atlas V rocket that lifted Cygnus into space on December 6 evening.

Orbital ATK CRS-4 was launched to the International Space Station (ISS) from Space Launch Complex 41 at 4:44 pm EST.

This was the first flight of an improved Cygnus spacecraft to the ISS. Orbital ATK's 4th contracted cargo resupply mission with the US Space Agency NASA to the ISS delivering over 7,000 pounds of science and research, vehicle hardware and crew supplies to the orbital laboratory and crew.

Brig. Gen. Wayne Monteith, 45th Space Wing commander, who has also worked as the Launch Decision Authority, said that he is proud of the integrated team, who made their 16th launch of the year a hit.

Brig. Gen. mentioned, “Additionally, the launch of this mission clearly demonstrates successful collaboration our wing has with our partners at NASA Kennedy Space Center, the Space and Missile Systems Center and industry. Together we've shared remarkable history of space exploration lasting more than half a century”.

Moreover, since July 1950 the present United Launch Alliance/Orbital ATK mission has represented the launch number 3,522 for the team. He said that their successful launch has proved how decades of professional partnership between the 45th SW, NASA, SMC, ULA and all of their other mission partners have been continuously shaping the future of America's space operations. He added that they are the World's Premier Gateway to Space.