Cygnus OA-9 (CRS-9) - Antares-230 - MARS LP-0A - 21.05.2018 08:44 UTC

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Orbital ATK‏Подлинная учетная запись @OrbitalATK 13 мин. назад

The #OA9 #Cygnus is delivering over 2,000 pounds of science and equipment including 50 investigations and 2 new facilities to @Space_Station #OrbitalATKDelivers

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Orbital ATK‏Подлинная учетная запись @OrbitalATK 3 мин. назад

Beginning on OA-11, we will be able to load cargo as late as 24 hours prior to launch. #Cygnus #Antares

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Orbital ATK‏Подлинная учетная запись @OrbitalATK 2 мин. назад

At the end of our CRS-1 contract, we will have delivered approximately 66,000 pounds, 30,000 kg, of cargo to the @Space_Station #OrbitalATKDelivers

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Jeff Foust‏ @jeff_foust 7 мин. назад

35% chance of weather violation for tomorrow morning's launch, with clouds the main concern. Two follow-on days have 45 and 25% chance of weather violations.

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Jeff Foust‏ @jeff_foust 4 мин. назад

Orbital ATK's Frank DeMauro says he expects no changes in Antares/Cygnus operations once Northrop Grumman's acquisition of the company closes (which is expected in the near future.)

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Предпусковой брифинг завершен

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https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/antares-rocket-set-to-launch-nasa-science-to-the-international-space-station

May 20, 2018

Antares Rocket Set to Launch NASA Science to the International Space Station



The Orbital ATK Antares rocket, with the Cygnus spacecraft onboard, is seen at launch Pad-0A, Saturday, May 19, 2018, at Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Liftoff is currently targeted for 4:39 a.m. Eastern on Monday, May 21.

The Antares will launch with the Cygnus spacecraft filled with 7,400 pounds of cargo for the International Space Station, including science experiments, crew supplies, and vehicle hardware. The mission is Orbital ATK's ninth contracted cargo delivery flight to the space station for NASA.

More about the cargo aboard Cygnus: Science Launching to the Space Station Looks Forward and Back

Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Last Updated: May 20, 2018
Editor: Sarah Loff

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https://www.orbitalatk.com/news-room/release.asp?prid=356

Orbital ATK Set to Launch Ninth Cargo Resupply Mission to the International Space Station

Orbital ATK's Cygnus Spacecraft Named in Honor of Legendary Space Industry Executive J.R. Thompson

Launch Will Take Place May 21 from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility

Dulles, Virginia 20 May 2018 – Orbital ATK (NYSE: OA), a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies, today announced it is set to launch the company's AntaresTM rocket carrying its CygnusTM cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station for NASA. Pending completion of final vehicle testing and acceptable local weather conditions, the launch will take place Monday, May 21 with lift-off scheduled for 4:39 a.m. EDT from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Pad 0A on Wallops Island, Virginia, at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility.

Спойлер

The mission, designated OA-9, will be Orbital ATK's ninth cargo delivery mission for NASA. The Antares medium-class rocket will match its record for the heaviest cargo load carried to date with approximately 7,400 pounds (3,350 kilograms) of vital supplies and scientific equipment that will support the crew aboard the International Space Station. The Cygnus spacecraft is scheduled to rendezvous and berth with the station on May 24, 2018. This mission marks the first flight for Cygnus's upgraded communications system, known as Common Communication for Visiting Vehicles (C2V2), which provides the opportunity for enhanced communication with science payloads and an improved interface with hosted payloads on future missions.

Orbital ATK names each Cygnus spacecraft in honor of astronauts and individuals who contributed to the United States' commercial space program. The OA-9 mission honors J.R. Thompson, a distinguished leader in the aerospace industry. Thompson helped shape the strategy and directed the operations of Orbital ATK's predecessor company, Orbital Sciences Corporation, for nearly 25 years. Before joining Orbital, Thompson was NASA's Deputy Administrator in Washington, D.C., from 1989 to 1991, following a three-year period as Director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

Upon arrival at the space station, the "S.S. J.R. Thompson" will be unloaded and prepped for the next phase of its mission. Cygnus will remain docked for approximately seven weeks to allow the astronauts aboard the space station to repack the module with items that are no longer needed on the orbiting laboratory. The removal of these objects is a crucial step in keeping the International Space Station operational. Once Cygnus is unberthed, a NanoRacks deployer will deploy six cubesats. Upon completion of its secondary missions, Cygnus will perform a safe, destructive reentry into Earth's atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean.

Under the CRS-1 contract with NASA, Orbital ATK will deliver approximately 66,000 pounds (30,000 kilograms) of cargo to the International Space Station. To date Orbital ATK has delivered nearly 44,000 pounds (20,000 kilograms) and will complete its CRS-1 contract with the OA-10 mission this fall and the OA-11 mission next year.

Beginning in 2019, Orbital ATK will carry out a minimum of six initial cargo missions under NASA's CRS-2 contract. The commercial resupply partnership with NASA is enhancing a robust American commercial space industry, freeing NASA to focus on developing the next-generation rocket and spacecraft that will enable humans to conduct deep space exploration missions.

Live coverage of the Antares launch and Cygnus berthing with the station will be available on NASA Television at http://www.nasa.gov/live. Details about the mission can be viewed at https://www.orbitalatk.com/news-room/feature-stories/OA9-Mission-Page/default.aspx

B-roll and animation footage for the mission can be found here: http://www.orbitalatk.com/news-room/bmc/#. Please note that media will be prompted to request a PIN for access.

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https://blogs.nasa.gov/orbital/2018/05/20/crs-9-launch-on-schedule-for-may-21/

CRS-9 Launch On Schedule for May 21

Rob Garner
Posted May 20, 2018 at 12:15 pm

Orbital ATK's Antares rocket with Cygnus spacecraft is on schedule for a 5-minute launch window opening May 21 at 4:39 a.m. EDT on the company's CRS-9 cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station. Launch will be from Virginia Space's Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Pad 0A at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia's Eastern Shore.

The 6-hour, 15-minute count is scheduled to begin at 10:24 p.m. tonight.

Спойлер

Weather remains at 65-percent favorable for the May 21 launch window. The current forecast for a one-day slip in the launch has 55-percent favorable weather and 75-percent favorable for a two-day slip.

"Weather is going to potentially affect visibility" of the launch in the region, although cloud cover can occasionally enhance views when the rocket illuminates them during flight, said Doug Voss, deputy chief of the Range and Mission Management Office at NASA Wallops, during a press briefing this morning.


Map of locations and times on the U.S. East Coast for viewing the Antares rocket launch. Credit: Orbital ATK

A May 21 launch would have the Cygnus spacecraft scheduled to arrive at the International Space Station on Thursday morning, May 24.

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Chris G - NSF‏ @ChrisG_NSF 2 мин. назад

Weather updates for #Antares launch w/ #Cygnus to @Space_Station from Virginia. Launch planned for 04:39 EDT Monday (0839 UTC) --
Monday: 65% chance of favorable weather.
Tuesday: 55% chance of favorable weather.
Wednesday: 75% chance of favorable weather.
@OrbitalATK #NASA

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Antares Rocket Raised at Launchpad (Time Lapse)

NASAWallops

Опубликовано: 19 мая 2018 г.

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