Orbital’s Antares rocket makes successful test flight
The Antares rocket launched smoothly on Sunday, and will ferry cargo to the ISS in June or July.
(Credit: Video screenshot by Tim Hornyak/CNET)
After multiple scrubbed launches last week, an Antares rocket finally lifted off the ground from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia as part of Orbital Sciences’ bid to transport cargo to the International Space Station.
The rocket lifted off at 5 p.m. ET Sunday and achieved orbit smoothly. It launched an 8,400-pound mock Cygnus supply ship into orbit about 158 miles above Earth.
Antares is a medium-class, two-stage, 13-storey rocket designed to carry payloads of up to 6,500 kg (14,329 pounds). Along with SpaceX, Orbital was awarded a Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) contract to resupply the ISS.
The successful test launch means Orbital will start ferrying goods to the space station, becoming the second private company to do so after SpaceX.
Related stories
- SpaceX cargo ship cleared for Sunday station capture
- Space spinach: Getting your greens on the ISS
- … [Read more]
Related Links:
NASA’s plan to bag an asteroid wins place in Obama’s budget
NASA has found 3 nice, habitable planets for us to choose from
Antares rocket in flawless test flight (photos)
Smartphone powers Star Wars-inspired NASA robot
NASA’s Kepler spacecraft to reveal new planetary discoveries?