A strong solar storm has been interfering with the latest supply flights to the International Space Station. Meanwhile, the orbiting lab has gained a four-year extension, thus increasing the lifetime of the orbiting lab till 2024. According to NASA’s human exploration chief, Bill Gerstenmaier, this extended duration is absolutely a favor to them.

On Wednesday, Orbital Sciences Corp. delayed its space station delivery mission for the third time. Another launch attempt from their side will be made on Thursday afternoon.

The company’s unmanned rocket, the Antares, was set to blast off from Wallops Island, Virginia, with a capsule full of supplies and science experiments, including ants for an educational project. But several hours before Wednesday’s proposed flight, the company officials took an unusual step to postpone the launch. This was because of the threat from solar radiation which could doom the rocket.

Orbital Sciences chief technical officer, Antonio Elias, said that solar particles might interfere with electronics equipments in the rocket which lead to a total launch failure.