Cygnus NG-14 (CRS-14) - Antares-230+ - Wallops FF, MARS LP-0A - 03.10.2020 01:16:14 UTC

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10/02/2020 00:59 Stephen Clark

The propellant loading timeline sequencer has been initiated, beginning steps to ready the Antares rocket and ground systems for filling of the first stage with liquid propellants later in the countdown.

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10/02/2020 01:00 Stephen Clark

These initial preparatory steps include chilldown conditioning of the launch pad's cryogenic propellant lines, purges and other activities. Propellant flows into the Antares rocket's first stage will begin around 90 minutes prior to liftoff.

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10/02/2020 01:01 Stephen Clark

The countdown is moving into testing of the Antares rocket's beacon and telemetry transmitters. This will be followed by checks of the vehicle's flight termination system.

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10/02/2020 01:03 Stephen Clark

Here's a view of the Antares rocket at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport's pad 0A a few minutes ago.

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10/02/2020 01:09 Stephen Clark

Chilldown of the liquid oxygen loading system at launch pad 0A is now underway.

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10/02/2020 01:14 Stephen Clark

The launch team is proceeding with testing of the Antares rocket's flight termination system, which would be used to destroy the vehicle if it flew off course after liftoff.

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10/02/2020 01:55 Stephen Clark

The launch team is now proceeding with activation of the first stage's hydraulic systems.

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10/02/2020 02:09 Stephen Clark

A series of slew, or steering checks, of the Antares rocket's propulsion system has been accomplished.

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10/02/2020 02:23 Stephen Clark

The Antares launch team is now calibrating engine pressure sensors on the Antares rocket.

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10/02/2020 02:50 Stephen Clark

The countdown has entered a pre-planned 30-minute built-in hold. An updated status on the countdown from Northrop Grumman launch conductor Adam Lewis shows the Antares rocket, the Cygnus spacecraft and the Wallops range are all "green" at this time for liftoff at 9:38 p.m. EDT (0138 GMT).

The Cygnus spacecraft set for launch aboard the Antares rocket is named the S.S. Kalpana Chawla, honoring of the astronauts who perished on the space shuttle Columbia in 2003.

"Kalpana was the first female astronaut of Indian descent," said Frank DeMauro, vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman's tactical space programs. "We are really honored to name this mission after her, and all the contributions which she's made to the human spaceflight program, someone who hame to the U.S., became a naturalized citizen, then became an astronaut and flew into space twice."

The S.S. Kalpana Chawla is packed with 7,829 pounds (3,551 kilograms) of supplies and experiments heading to the International Space Station. Here's a breakdown of the cargo manifest provided by NASA:

• 2,712 pounds (1,230 kilograms) of vehicle hardware
• 2,683 pounds (1,217 kilograms) of scientific investigations
• 1,874 pounds (850 kilograms) of crew supplies
• 333 pounds (151 kilograms) of spacewalk equipment
• 156 pounds (71 kilograms) of computer resources

The Cygnus supply ship is expected to reach the space station Sunday morning, and will remain berthed Unity module until mid-December, when it will be released by the station's robotic arm.

The automated cargo carrier, loaded with trash after its departure from the station, will perform an in-flight combustion experiment before re-entering the atmosphere and burning up over the South Pacific Ocean to end its mission.

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10/02/2020 02:59 Stephen Clark

The launch weather officer at Wallops just briefed the Antares team on conditions for launch. Weather continues to look favorable for today's liftoff time set for 9:38:45 p.m. EST (0138:45 GMT).

The weather officer predicts a 90 percent chance of acceptable weather at launch time tonight. The forecast at launch time calls for a few clouds at 5,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet, southwest winds at 4 knots, and a temperature of 67 to 69 degrees Fahrenheit.

Upper level winds are also predicted to be favorable for launch, with forecast peak winds of about 89 knots at about 30,000 feet.

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 Thomas Burghardt @TGMetsFan98 1 ч. назад

Please launch tonight, @northropgrumman. #Antares #Cygnus #NG14

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 Spaceflight Now @SpaceflightNow 2 мин. назад

Northrop Grumman launch conductor just polled the Antares team, and all stations reported they are "go" to begin filling the Antares rocket with propellants at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport.

Launch is on track for 9:38pm EDT (0138 GMT).

Watch: https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/10/01/antares-cygnus-ng-14-mission-status-center/...

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10/02/2020 03:18 Stephen Clark

The countdown has resumed after a 30-minute built-in hold.

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10/02/2020 03:24 Stephen Clark

Propellant has started pumping into the Antares rocket's first stage. About 21,000 gallons of RP-1, a high-refined rocket-grade kerosene, and about 41,000 gallons of liquid oxygen will be loaded into the first stage over the next half-hour.

The kerosene is stored at roughly room temperature and the liquid oxygen is chilled to around minus 298 degrees Fahrenheit. The oxygen will slowly boil off during the countdown, and liquid oxygen will continue flowing into the rocket until shortly before liftoff.

One change introduced by the Antares 230 rocket, which made its inaugural flight in 2016, is the elimination of "sub-cooled" liquid oxygen chilled and densified at minus 383 degrees Fahrenheit for the Antares rocket's old AJ26 engines. The RD-181s consume the oxidizer at its boiling point.

The first stage tanks are designed by Yuzhnoye and built by Yuzhmash in Ukraine based on heritage from the Zenit rocket. The liquid oxygen tank is positioned in the upper part of the 12.8-foot-diameter stage and the RP-1 tank is in the lower part of the stage.

The first stage's two RD-181 engines will consume the liquid propellant during a 3-minute, 18-second burn.

The Antares second stage, a Castor 30XL motor built by Northrop Grumman, is propelled by solid fuel already loaded into the rocket.


10/02/2020 03:24 Stephen Clark

Low-flow loading of RP-1 kerosene into the Antares rocket's first stage is underway, and chilldown conditioning of the liquid oxygen system has started.

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10/02/2020 03:25 Stephen Clark

Gripper arms on the transporter-erector-launcher have opened, and the structure has moved to the so-called "pre-pullback" position in preparation for its retract at liftoff.

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 Northrop Grumman @northropgrumman 3 мин. назад

We are 1 hour away from launch of the NG-14 #Antares rocket carrying our #Cygnus spacecraft to the @Space_Station. Liftoff is set for 9:38 p.m. ET. Stay tuned.

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10/02/2020 03:41 Stephen Clark

Northrop Grumman launch conductor Adam Lewis reports the Antares team is discussing an issue with a ground support equipment rack associated with the rocket's Ukrainian-built first stage. The rack is receiving intermittent data.

The countdown is still continuing to tick toward launch from Virginia at 9:38 p.m. EDT (0138 GMT).

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10/02/2020 03:49 Stephen Clark

The launch team is commanding a remote reset of the problematic ground support equipment rack at the launch pad in hopes that resolves the issue with intermittent telemetry.

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10/02/2020 03:56 Stephen Clark

The Antares launch team confirms a reset of the ground support equipment rack has resolved the problem.