Orbital revises Antares launch schedule
Posted: Thu, Feb 23, 2012, 7:24 AM ET (1224 GMT)
Executives of Orbital Sciences Corporation confirmed this week delays in the first launches of its Antares rocket and Cygnus cargo spacecraft, pushing back the inaugural launch until at least June. A revised schedule announced by the company calls for a demonstration launch of the Antares rocket from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) at Wallops Island, Virginia. in June, followed by a launch carrying the first Cygnus cargo spacecraft on a test flight in the third quarter. If those launches are successful, the first operational Cygnus cargo mission to the ISS would take place in the fourth quarter. Orbital is building the Antares (formerly Taurus II) rocket and Cygnus spacecraft as part of NASA's COTS program to develop commercial systems for ISS cargo transportation. Orbital officials said continuing delays in finishing the spaceport infrastructure at MARS needed to support Antares launches.
Executives of Orbital Sciences Corporation confirmed this week delays in the first launches of its Antares rocket and Cygnus cargo spacecraft, pushing back the inaugural launch until at least June. A revised schedule announced by the company calls for a demonstration launch of the Antares rocket from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) at Wallops Island, Virginia. in June, followed by a launch carrying the first Cygnus cargo spacecraft on a test flight in the third quarter. If those launches are successful, the first operational Cygnus cargo mission to the ISS would take place in the fourth quarter. Orbital is building the Antares (formerly Taurus II) rocket and Cygnus spacecraft as part of NASA's COTS program to develop commercial systems for ISS cargo transportation. Orbital officials said continuing delays in finishing the spaceport infrastructure at MARS needed to support Antares launches.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Monday, March 2
Firefly Scrubs Alpha Rocket Launch Attempt Due to Winds
Noozhawk — 6:28 am ET (1128 GMT) Space, 6G and AI: How Europe aims to be at the forefront of global communications with €100mil fund
EuroNews — 6:28 am ET (1128 GMT) SpaceX launches 29 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral
Spaceflight Now — 6:26 am ET (1126 GMT) US far behind in space defense, True Anomaly CEO warns
Business Insider — 6:25 am ET (1125 GMT) Apollo-era space colony dreams inspire Musk’s moon transport plan
The Hill — 6:22 am ET (1122 GMT) |
