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The Dulles-based company Orbital Sciences Corp. initially tried to launch the new Antares rocket from a seaside pad here at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Wednesday (April 17), but called off the attempt when a data cable that relays commands to the rocket's onboard computer popped loose from the booster 10 minutes before liftoff.

"We are still examining all of the data, but it appears that the issue is fairly straightforward," Orbital executive vice president Frank Culbertson, a former astronaut and head of Orbital's advanced programs group, said in a statement Wednesday. "With this being the first launch of the new system from a new launch facility we have taken prudent steps to ensure a safe and successful outcome. Today, our scrub procedures were exercised and worked as planned. We are looking forward to a successful launch on Friday." [See photos of Orbital's Antares rocket test]