Cygnus Launch to Space Station Set for Monday

Cygnus and ISS robotic arm (Credit: NASA)

ISS Commercial Resupply Services Mission (Orb-3)

Launch Date: 6:45 p.m., Oct. 27, 2014

Launch Site: MARS Pad 0A at NASA Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, VA

Cygnus ISS Rendezvous: November 2, 2014

Following an inspection of the tracking station in Bermuda used for Antares launches after Hurricane Gonzalo, Orbital and NASA together have established October 27 as the launch date for the upcoming Orb-3 Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission will originate from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in eastern Virginia. Lift-off of the Antares rocket is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. (EDT), with rendezvous and berthing with the ISS early in the morning on November 2. Taking advantage of Cygnus’ operational capabilities, Orbital is launching the Orb-3 mission to orbit several days earlier than necessary to preserve schedule flexibility and time its arrival at the station to conform to other visiting vehicle operations.

The Cygnus spacecraft is fully fueled and loaded with most of its cargo bound for the ISS and has been mated with the Antares rocket that will launch it into low-Earth orbit. The remaining time sensitive “final load” cargo will be placed onboard tomorrow, prior to fairing encapsulation, which is also scheduled for tomorrow. On Friday, October 24, the Antares rocket will be rolled out from the Horizontal Integration Facility to the MARS launch pad 0A located about a mile away.

Orb-3 Cygnus Spacecraft Named for Deke Slayton

A decorated U.S. Air Force pilot and NASA astronaut, the late Donald “Deke” K. Slayton was a champion of America’s commercial space program. To salute Slayton’s significant contributions to American leadership in space, Orbital has named the Cygnus spacecraft for the Orb-3 mission the SS Deke Slayton. More information about Deke Slayton is available here.

Viewing the Launch

Weather permitting, the launch of Antares from Wallops Island, VA on October 27, 2014 may be visible along the East Coast.

The Maximum Elevation Map shows the maximum elevation (degrees above the horizon) that Antares will reach depending on your location. The further away you are from the launch site, the closer to the horizon the rocket will be. If you are in Washington, DC the highest point Antares will reach is approximately 10 degrees above the horizon. The contours shown stop below 5 degrees. It is unlikely that you’ll be able to view the rocket when it is below 5 degrees due to buildings, vegetation, and other terrain features.

Time of First Sighting Map shows the rough time at which you can first expect to see Antares after it is launched. It represents the time at which the rocket will reach 5 degrees above the horizon and varies depending on your location. Using this map when observing from Washington, DC shows that Antares will reach 5 degrees above the horizon approximately 90 seconds after launch (L + 90 sec).

Maximum Elevation Map	First Sighting Map

The Orb-3 launch will be broadcast on NASA TV and webcast on www.nasa.gov on launch day. In addition, NASA TV will provide live coverage of the rendezvous and berthing of Cygnus with the ISS.

You can follow the launch on Twitter @orbitalsciences and on Facebook.

About the Orb-3 Mission

The Orb-3 mission represents the fifth launch of the company’s Antares rocket in its first 18 months of operations. It will also be the fourth cargo delivery mission to the ISS by a Cygnus spacecraft, including the 2013 demonstration flight. For Orb-3, Orbital will deliver its largest load of cargo to date, carrying approximately 5,050 pounds (2,290 kilograms) of cargo to the ISS for NASA. At the conclusion of the Orb-3 mission, the company will have carried a total of 13,378 pounds (6,078 kilograms) of essential supplies, equipment and scientific experiments to the ISS and will have removed 13,444 pounds (6,097 kilograms) of disposal cargo, a vital capability for the maintenance and operation of the Station.

About Antares

The two-stage Antares space launch vehicle utilizes a liquid-fueled first stage powered by two Aerojet Rocketdyne AJ26 engines and a solid motor ATK CASTOR 30XL upper stage to boost Cygnus into orbit. The powered launch sequence will last about nine-and-a-half minutes from liftoff through the separation of Cygnus from the launch vehicle. This mission is the first to use the larger, more powerful CASTOR 30XL second stage motor.

Cygnus Mission Description

After separation from Antares, Cygnus will deploy its solar arrays and undergo initial check-out. The spacecraft will conduct a series of thruster burns to raise its orbit to bring it within 4 km of the ISS prior to receiving authorization to autonomously rendezvous with the station. When the vehicle approaches to within 12 meters, the astronauts will use the station’s robotic arm to grapple Cygnus and berth it to the Harmony node of the station. Cygnus is planned to remain berthed at the ISS for approximately five weeks during which time the station crew will load Cygnus with materials for disposal. At the end of the mission Cygnus will depart the station and reenter the Earth’s atmosphere.

Image Gallery

An image gallery with photos of the launch campaign is available here.

About Commercial Resupply Services

Under a $1.9 billion CRS contract with NASA, Orbital will use Antares and Cygnus to deliver up to 44,000 pounds (20,000 kilograms) of cargo to the ISS over eight missions, including the mission currently underway, through late 2016. For these missions, NASA will manifest a variety of essential items based on ISS program needs, including food, clothing, crew supplies, spare parts and equipment, and scientific experiments.