Orbital rolls out Antares rocket
Posted: Thu, Apr 12, 2012, 9:24 AM ET (1324 GMT)
Orbital Sciences Corporation rolled out the first stage of its Antares rocket to its new launch pad in Virginia on Wednesday in preparation for tests leading up to an inaugural launch later this year. Orbital workers moved the Antares rocket stage from its Horizontal Integration Facility at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) on Wallops Island, Virginia, to Pad 0A at Wallops to begin a series of fit tests. These "pathfinder" operations are designed to test rolling out and erecting the rocket on the pad. Orbital plans to conduct a static fire test of the rocket on the pad, which is not yet complete, this summer, with a demonstration launch to follow. Delays in completing the launch pad have pushed back Orbital's plans for launching Antares, which will carry the company's Cygnus spacecraft to deliver cargo to the International Space Station.
Orbital Sciences Corporation rolled out the first stage of its Antares rocket to its new launch pad in Virginia on Wednesday in preparation for tests leading up to an inaugural launch later this year. Orbital workers moved the Antares rocket stage from its Horizontal Integration Facility at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) on Wallops Island, Virginia, to Pad 0A at Wallops to begin a series of fit tests. These "pathfinder" operations are designed to test rolling out and erecting the rocket on the pad. Orbital plans to conduct a static fire test of the rocket on the pad, which is not yet complete, this summer, with a demonstration launch to follow. Delays in completing the launch pad have pushed back Orbital's plans for launching Antares, which will carry the company's Cygnus spacecraft to deliver cargo to the International Space Station.| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Sunday, June 21
Revealing how and when a black hole’s mighty winds can squash star formation
Univ. of Michigan — 11:36 am ET (1536 GMT) How an oddball ‘hot Jupiter’ shows us new possibilities for planets beyond our solar system
Univ. of Michigan — 11:35 am ET (1535 GMT) GMV will develop Satellite Control System for CAMILA, Poland’s largest satellite initiative
GMV — 11:35 am ET (1535 GMT) Gilat to Acquire Comtech’s Satellite & Space Communications Segment Creating a Leading Provider of Advanced Defense and Satellite Communications Solutions
Gilat Satellite Networks — 11:33 am ET (1533 GMT) Stars of physics descend on Westminster to halt catastrophic funding cuts
Royal Aeronautical Society — 11:32 am ET (1532 GMT) |
