Commercial Antares Launches From Mid Atlantic Regional Spaceport To Orbit

THIRD ATTEMPT WAS CHARM: With the moon perched in the 5pm sky and two eagles soaring around the launch pad Sunday, the nation's second commercial rocket took to orbit from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility in Accomack County, Virginia. The Orbital Sciences Corporation's Antares rocket made a "NOMINAL" flight to orbit setting the stage for the second commercial cargo spacecraft to make deliveries to the International Space Station later in the coming summer, according to the "DAILY PRESS". SpaceX completed three test flights and last year began the first of 12 supply runs to the station under a 1.6 billion contract. NASA also contributed 396 million toward development and testing of the company's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon cargo capsule. Orbital has one more test flight under its 288 million development contract before it is clear to begin the first of eight planned cargo runs under a 1.9-billion NASA contract. (Orbital's Cygnus capsule is larger and can carry more cargo than SpaceX's Dragon, hence the price difference, notes "DISCOVERY".)

"Today's successful test marks another significant milestone in NASA's plan to rely on American companies to launch supplies and astronauts to the International Space Station, bringing this important work back to the United States where it belongs," said NASA ADMINISTRATOR CHARLES BOLDEN. "Congratulations to Orbital Sciences and the NASA team that worked alongside them for the picture-perfect launch of the Antares rocket. In addition to providing further evidence that our strategic space exploration plan is moving forward, this test also inaugurates America's newest spaceport capable of launching to the space station, opening up additional opportunities for commercial and government users."

Bolden and NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver were among the special guests at the launch site. Bolden and Garver lead a toast by about 100 or so onlookers at the VIP section at the conclusion of the mission to orbit. Accompanied by Virginia Secretary of Transportation Sean Connaughton, NASA Wallops Flight Facility Director Bill Wrobel, State Del. Lynwood Lewis and Accomack County Supervisor Ron Wolff, the excited group cheered the successful milestone first flight of the Antares booster.

Garver noted on her blog, "It was a thrill to be at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia today for the successful launch of the Antares rocket on its maiden voyage. Today's test flight marks another important milestone in NASA's plan for American companies to launch supplies to the International Space Station for fewer tax dollars, bringing this important work back to the United States where it belongs. I congratulate the Orbital and NASA teams that helped to make this achievement possible."

Hundreds of onlookers gathered at different sites around the Eastern Shore to view the watershed Virginia event with the "PONDEROUS BEAST" on the third launch attempt, first delayed by a technical glitch last Wednesday and high winds on Saturday.

"The Orbital/VCSFA relationship is emblematic of how government and the private sector can successfully partner together to grow Virginia businesses and create jobs. The completion of Pad 0A last year and today's successful launch are tremendous steps forward for both Orbital and the Commonwealth of Virginia. I look forward to our continued partnership with Orbital as they work to meet their contract with NASA and the VCSFA works to further develop and grow the commercial aerospace industry in Virginia, GOV. BOB MCDONNELL said in a statement from Richmond.

Assuming analysis of telemetry from the rocket confirms good performance, Orbital should be clear to proceed with a so-called "demonstration" flight in June or July, this one using a Cygnus cargo capsule that will carry about a ton of equipment and supplies to the space station, notes Orbital VP Frank Culbertson. View from Arbuckle Neck Road: After the launch of Antares A-One Launch on April 21, 2013 a brush fire broke out near the pad. At the end, you can see the fire dept putting out the fire with some highly effective water streams - seemingly adding to the launch decorum of the moment. More from CBS NEWS.

Reference: lights-in-sky.blogspot.com