NASASpaceFlight.com Forum
Commercial and US Government Launch Vehicles => NGIS (Formerly Orbital ATK) - Antares/Cygnus Section => Topic started by: Targeteer on 01/31/2014 01:20 am
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Resources:
Orbital GENERAL Forum Section:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=46.0
Orbital (Antares/Cygnus) News Articles:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/tag/orbital/
EOM Article:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/02/orb-1-cygnus-departs-iss-fiery-farewell/
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L2 Antares/Cygnus Section - Really good section with a lot of documentation, video and content resources exclusive to L2:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=54.0
(Now includes 100s of mbs of unreleased hi res images taken of Cygnus from the ISS during ORB-D and ORB-1).
Cygnus PCM arrival via AN-124 at Wallops
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.764148203615283.1073741865.191575794205863&type=1
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Service module near completion at Dulles. Photo tweeted yesterday:
https://twitter.com/OrbitalSciences/status/428948772744216576/photo/1
edit: (...and 4 more in the pipeline: https://twitter.com/OrbitalSciences/status/428951221336936448/photo/1).
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Service module near completion at Dulles. Photo tweeted yesterday:
https://twitter.com/OrbitalSciences/status/428948772744216576/photo/1
edit: (...and 4 more in the pipeline: https://twitter.com/OrbitalSciences/status/428951221336936448/photo/1).
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A newer picture (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152001527361896) of the ORB-2 Cygnus from the Space Foundation Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Space-Foundation/101353061895). Posted there Thursday 20.
Original caption:
THANK YOU to Space Foundation Corporate Member company Orbital Sciences Corporation, who hosted two of our team members today! Government Affairs Associate Tommy Sanford and VP - Washington Operations Brendan Curry were treated to a tour of Orbital's mission control centers as well as their spacecraft manufacturing facilities. Here they are posing alongside the next Cygnus cargo module under construction that is set to launch in May. Thank you, Orbital! And Tommy and Brendan…looking good, guys!
edit: added links and date
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Small slip:
Orbital:
Orbital Sciences Corporation today announced that it is targeting a “no-earlier-than” date of May 6, 2014 for the launch of its next commercial cargo resupply (CRS) mission to the International Space Station. The mission will originate from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility located in Eastern Virginia. The targeted launch time for the Antares rocket carrying the Cygnus cargo logistics spacecraft is 3:44 p.m. (EDT), which is at the beginning of a 5-minute launch window that extends to 3:49 p.m. (EDT).
This mission, known as Orb-2, will represent the third time Orbital’s Cygnus spacecraft will have delivered cargo to the ISS, including the demonstration mission under the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) agreement that was completed in October 2013 and the first of eight CRS missions, Orb-1, completed in February 2014. At the completion of the Orb-2 mission, Orbital’s system will have delivered approximately 3,800 kilos (about 8,400 lbs.) of cargo to support the Expedition crews conducting research and living aboard the ISS. The Orb-2 mission will also represent the fourth launch of the medium-class Antares rocket in its first 13 months of operations, a significant achievement for a new rocket program.
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Will write it up.
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And that's written up (note I stretched the information with some Castor forward path etc):
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/03/orbital-may-6-next-cygnus-mission-iss/
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And that's written up (note I stretched the information with some Castor forward path etc):
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/03/orbital-may-6-next-cygnus-mission-iss/
I didn't see it mentioned in the article. Is the delay to allow for more time to unload and reload the Dragon before it leaves the station ? Does every day of SpaceX delay also delay this launch ?
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Any info, if this time also cubesats will be carried to the ISS?
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http://www.parabolicarc.com/2014/03/04/march-cubesats/#more-51788
NanoRacks is fully booked with CubeSats on the next Cygnus spacecraft resupply mission from Orbital Sciences Corporation, currently scheduled for May 1.
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March 21, 2014
NASA Opens Media Accreditation for May Orbital Sciences Cargo Resupply Mission to International Space Station
Media accreditation is open for the launch of the second NASA contracted cargo resupply flight to the International Space Station from Virginia.
Orbital Sciences Corp. of Dulles, Va., will launch the Orbital-2 cargo resupply mission at 3:44 p.m. EDT Tuesday, May 6, from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport's Pad 0A at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility. A five minute launch window extends until 3:49 p.m.
This will be the second of eight planned cargo resupply missions by Orbital Sciences for NASA under the agency's $1.9 billion Commercial Resupply Services contract with the company. Cargo resupply from U.S. companies ensures a national capability to deliver critical science research to the space station, significantly increasing NASA's ability to conduct new science investigations to the only laboratory in microgravity.
International media without U.S. citizenship must apply by April 4 for credentials to cover the prelaunch and launch activities at Wallops. The application deadline is April 30 for media who are U.S. citizens. Journalists should send their accreditation request to Keith Koehler at [email protected].
For questions about accreditation or additional information, contact Keith Koehler by email or at 757-824-1579.
For information about Orbital Sciences, and its Antares rocket and Cygnus spacecraft, visit:
http://www.orbital.com/antares-cygnus
For more information about the International Space Station and Commercial Resupply Services, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/station
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Any likelihood of this slipping a little now with the previous vehicle arriving only 3 weeks prior? Is this a manageable and desirable schedule for ISS?
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Any likelihood of this slipping a little now with the previous vehicle arriving only 3 weeks prior? Is this a manageable and desirable schedule for ISS?
It saddens me when people don't read the news site....
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/04/range-realigns-spacex-crs-3-april/
Should the Falcon 9 v1.1 launch on either the 14th or 18th, Orbital’s next mission to the ISS, on their CRS-2 mission with the Cygnus spacecraft – is unlikely to suffer from a schedule impact, with options including a reduced berthed period for the Dragon.
Such evaluations will be determined once the Dragon has successfully arrived at the Station, with many considerations in play per the ISS’ very busy Visiting Vehicle (VV) schedule.
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http://spaceflightnow.com/antares/orb2/140408schedule/#.U0Sk_8fc1rA
Preparations for the next Orbital Sciences Corp. cargo delivery mission to the International Space Station are on track for launch in early May, but NASA plans to ask the company to reschedule its resupply run for some time in mid-June after delays in launching a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to the complex, sources said.
..high sun angles on the space station's orbit in early June will prevent the safe arrival of the Cygnus spacecraft until at least June 9. Sources said Orbital and NASA have not yet agreed on a target launch date in June.
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I imagine ORB-2 will take up the balance of the HTV-5 slot, since HTV-5 has been inexplicably delayed to February.
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Copied over the MDM failure thread and pre-launch press conference--June it is.
Quote from: Targeteer on Today at 05:28 PM
Suff's answer to a question about Orbital's next launch was "on the 8th or 9th after the beta cutout" without a month specified. Is that actually June?
Yes.
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Status update from Mike Suffredini at an NAC meeting yesterday.
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http://ssep.ncesse.org/2014/04/april-17-2014-flight-ops-update-the-flight-of-charlie-brown-on-orb-2-the-ssep-mission-5-experiments-payload/
April 17, 2014 FLIGHT OPS UPDATE: The Flight of Charlie Brown on Orb-2 – The SSEP Mission 5 Experiments Payload
All SSEP student flight teams for the 15 Mission 5 to ISS experiments are still driving against a May 6, 2014, launch. All mini-labs containing the flight experiments are due at NanoRacks in Houston by Friday, April 18, 2014, for integration into the SSEP Charlie Brown payload. Charlie Brown will then be integrated into the Cygnus spacecraft for launch as Orb-2 from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS), Wallops Island, VA.
However, a May 6 launch of Orb-2 to the International Space Station (ISS) can only take place if the launch of SpaceX-3 out of Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL - also bound for ISS - is so significantly delayed that Orb-2 is given the go ahead to launch before SpaceX-3 (see April 14, 2014 Post). We were expecting a launch of SpaceX-3 on April 14, but that did not occur due to a helium leak in the Falcon 9 rocket.
Current Status: the Orb-2 launch has not yet been moved ahead of SpaceX-3. NASA has rescheduled the launch of SpaceX-3 for Friday, April 18, at 3:25 pm EDT. NASA is also holding open a second window for a launch attempt on Saturday, April 19, at 3:02 pm EDT. If SpaceX-3, for whatever reason, does not launch by Saturday, we are assuming that Orb-2 will be given the go to launch on May 6. If SpaceX-3 does launch by Saturday, the Orb-2 launch, and the flight of the SSEP Charlie Brown payload will be delayed until mid-June. The space drama …. continues. Stay tuned.
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Does this Cygnus have a name yet ?
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A note - if the launch of Cygnus slips to June 10, the launch time would be in the middle of the night, around 2:20 am EDT (06:20 UTC) for that day. ::)
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Well, it's just early morning for Chris! :)
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Dangit, SpaceX. That is going to make for a tiring drive...
I was hoping to bring some people out with me but I don't think they're crazy enough to see a 2:30 launch
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http://ssep.ncesse.org/2014/04/april-17-2014-flight-ops-update-the-flight-of-charlie-brown-on-orb-2-the-ssep-mission-5-experiments-payload/
Current Status: the Orb-2 launch has not yet been moved ahead of SpaceX-3. NASA has rescheduled the launch of SpaceX-3 for Friday, April 18, at 3:25 pm EDT. NASA is also holding open a second window for a launch attempt on Saturday, April 19, at 3:02 pm EDT. If SpaceX-3, for whatever reason, does not launch by Saturday, we are assuming that Orb-2 will be given the go to launch on May 6. If SpaceX-3 does launch by Saturday, the Orb-2 launch, and the flight of the SSEP Charlie Brown payload will be delayed until mid-June. The space drama …. continues. Stay tuned.
Anything On "Made in Space" has it been pulled or its status?
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=33141.msg1179409#msg1179409
https://twitter.com/_madeinspace http://www.madeinspace.us/
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A note - if the launch of Cygnus slips to June 10, the launch time would be in the middle of the night, around 2:20 am EDT (06:20 UTC) for that day. ::)
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html (http://www.spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html) reports a launch time of 06:07:07 UTC (2:07:07 am EDT) on June 10.
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I have seen reports that Aerojet has been unable to acquire the start cartridges for the AJ-26s for the next few Antares due to Russia sanctions. Can anyone verify this?
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Where are those reports that you've seen? Links? I believe it. I'd just like to read them.
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I have seen reports that Aerojet has been unable to acquire the start cartridges for the AJ-26s for the next few Antares due to Russia sanctions. Can anyone verify this?
googling didn't turn up any rumors for me... but I did find this: http://www.lpre.de/resources/articles/AIAA-1998-3361.pdf
it's an extremely detailed description of the NK-33 and the things Aerojet has done to turn it into the AJ-26. there's a lot of discussion of the way various parts of the original NK-33 were started, and how things now work.
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I have seen reports that Aerojet has been unable to acquire the start cartridges for the AJ-26s for the next few Antares due to Russia sanctions. Can anyone verify this?
googling didn't turn up any rumors for me... but I did find this: http://www.lpre.de/resources/articles/AIAA-1998-3361.pdf
it's an extremely detailed description of the NK-33 and the things Aerojet has done to turn it into the AJ-26. there's a lot of discussion of the way various parts of the original NK-33 were started, and how things now work.
page 15 describes the changes that were made, and contains this:
Component: Start cartridge and MCC igniter solid propellant
Modification: Replace with U.S. ordnance
Modification Rationale: Russian availability
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Where are those reports that you've seen? Links? I believe it. I'd just like to read them.
Here of all forums in the world (http://www.orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?p=466154#post466154) (IIRC that member's father work with Aerojet @ Sacramento)
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Where are those reports that you've seen? Links? I believe it. I'd just like to read them.
Here of all forums in the world (http://www.orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?p=466154#post466154) (IIRC that member's father work with Aerojet @ Sacramento)
he just says "supply issue" it could be an entirely domestic matter.
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Where are those reports that you've seen? Links? I believe it. I'd just like to read them.
Here of all forums in the world (http://www.orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?p=466154#post466154) (IIRC that member's father work with Aerojet @ Sacramento)
he just says "supply issue" it could be an entirely domestic matter.
not worth the time
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May 2, 2014
NASA Extends Media Accreditation for Next Orbital Sciences Cargo Resupply Mission to International Space Station
Media accreditation has been extended for the launch of the second NASA contracted cargo resupply flight to the International Space Station from Virginia.
Orbital Sciences Corp. of Dulles, Va., will launch the Orbital-2 cargo resupply mission at 2:07 a.m. EDT Tuesday, June 10 from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport's Pad 0A at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility. NASA Television coverage begins at 1:15 a.m.
With a launch on June 10, Orbital's Cygnus cargo spacecraft will arrive at the space station on June 13. Cygnus will remain at the orbiting laboratory until July 11.
This will be the second of eight planned cargo missions by Orbital Sciences for NASA under the agency's $1.9 billion Commercial Resupply Services contract with the company. Cargo resupply from U.S. companies ensures a national capability to deliver critical science research to the space station, significantly increasing NASA's ability to conduct new science investigations to the only laboratory in microgravity.
International media without U.S. citizenship must apply by May 12 for credentials to cover the prelaunch and launch activities at Wallops. The application deadline is June 4 for media who are U.S. citizens. Journalists should send their accreditation request to Keith Koehler at [email protected].
For questions about accreditation or additional information, contact Keith Koehler by email or at 757-824-1579.
For information about Orbital, and its Antares rocket and Cygnus spacecraft, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/orbital
and
http://www.orbital.com/antares-cygnus
For more information about the International Space Station and Commercial Resupply Services, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/station
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http://ssep.ncesse.org/2014/04/april-17-2014-flight-ops-update-the-flight-of-charlie-brown-on-orb-2-the-ssep-mission-5-experiments-payload/
Current Status: the Orb-2 launch has not yet been moved ahead of SpaceX-3. NASA has rescheduled the launch of SpaceX-3 for Friday, April 18, at 3:25 pm EDT. NASA is also holding open a second window for a launch attempt on Saturday, April 19, at 3:02 pm EDT. If SpaceX-3, for whatever reason, does not launch by Saturday, we are assuming that Orb-2 will be given the go to launch on May 6. If SpaceX-3 does launch by Saturday, the Orb-2 launch, and the flight of the SSEP Charlie Brown payload will be delayed until mid-June. The space drama …. continues. Stay tuned.
Anything On "Made in Space" has it been pulled or its status?
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=33141.msg1179409#msg1179409
https://twitter.com/_madeinspace http://www.madeinspace.us/
Just found out Made in Space got bumped from ORB-2 and is now going on Spx-4 Anyone have any details on why this got bumped? Problems from the Payload end or other.....any info appreciated.
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Any talk of delaying ORB-CRS-2 because of the delay in extracting the OPALS experiment from SpX-CRS-3's trunk? Unless there is any time-critical sensitive cargo, I suppose they can just leave the Cygnus in a parking orbit until the Dragon clears Harmony Nadir.
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Any talk of delaying ORB-CRS-2 because of the delay in extracting the OPALS experiment from SpX-CRS-3's trunk? Unless there is any time-critical sensitive cargo, I suppose they can just leave the Cygnus in a parking orbit until the Dragon clears Harmony Nadir.
ORB-2 was already delayed to June 10th, so I expect Dragon will be bobbing in the ocean before then.
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Is there somewhere online that shows the full cargo for this flight?
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Is there somewhere online that shows the full cargo for this flight?
Orbital put out a press kit for Orb-1 that had a cargo manifest in it. Once we get closer to launch we should see one from either NASA or Orbital.
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I was wondering if anyone knows where a bigger image of the mission patch for CRS ORB-2 might be. The only one I can find is on the Orbital Sciences webpage and it is very tiny.
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Does anyone believe the June 10 date can still happen given the engine explosion at Stennis? If not, what are your guesses about the best and worst case delays to ORB-2?
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Given how close it is to June 10 I'm guessing that the engine that RUDed was intended for a later Antares, not this flight. So if they determine the cause quickly and clear CRS-2's engine of the same defect they may not have to delay at all.
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Given how close it is to June 10 I'm guessing that the engine that RUDed was intended for a later Antares, not this flight. So if they determine the cause quickly and clear CRS-2's engine of the same defect they may not have to delay at all.
18 days to discover the root cause from shattered pieces of an engine and be convinced there's no chance they got it wrong, plus do whatever inspections are necessary to clear the CRS-2 engine and approve it for flight? That seems awfully optimistic.
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...shattered pieces of an engine...
We don't know that. It may not have completely disassembled itself.
V/R,
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They should also have a full set of telemetry data from the test leading up to the moment of failure. The engine hardware itself isn't all they have to work with.
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Given how close it is to June 10 I'm guessing that the engine that RUDed was intended for a later Antares, not this flight. So if they determine the cause quickly and clear CRS-2's engine of the same defect they may not have to delay at all.
18 days to discover the root cause from shattered pieces of an engine and be convinced there's no chance they got it wrong, plus do whatever inspections are necessary to clear the CRS-2 engine and approve it for flight? That seems awfully optimistic.
The last time this happened, it took about 3.5 months to figure out the cause, then plan and implement the better inspections.
[...] a fourth engine suffered a failure during a June 9, 2011 static test at Stennis Space Center's E-1 test stand. The engine caught fire during the aborted test because of a kerosene fuel leak from an engine manifold.[...] The replacement engine was successfully hot-fire tested on September 28, 2011 after improved inspection protocols had been implemented.
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"Mission Update - May 28, 2014
Orbital has rescheduled the launch of its Antares rocket for the Orb-2 mission to a date of no earlier than (NET) June 17, 2014. Orb-2 is the second of eight cargo resupply missions to the International Space Station under Orbital’s Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract with NASA. The new launch schedule has been established to allow the engineering teams from the main stage propulsion supplier Aerojet Rocketdyne and Orbital to investigate the causes of an AJ26 engine failure that occurred last week at NASA’s Stennis Space Center during customary acceptance testing. That engine was designated for use in a mission slated for 2015 and was undergoing hot fire testing that all Antares AJ26 engines are subject to in order to ensure nominal performance and acceptance for use in Antares missions. The NET June 17 is a planning date. The determination of a new firm date will depend on progress of the investigation team, so please check back to this page for further updates."
http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/MissionUpdates/Orb-2/
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Per L2, looking at June 20.
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Does anyone have an EDT launch time for June 20th?
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Does anyone have an EDT launch time for June 20th?
Don't know, but it seems to be in plane in the neighborhood of 10pm.
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Does anyone have a graphic of where you will be able to see this from. I'm going to Maryland that week but I can't drive 3.5 hours there with 4 & 1 year olds. Hoping the graphic might say we will be able to see the accent from our location. Thanks
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Does anyone have a graphic of where you will be able to see this from. I'm going to Maryland that week but I can't drive 3.5 hours there with 4 & 1 year olds. Hoping the graphic might say we will be able to see the accent from our location. Thanks
Enjoy!
(http://i.space.com/images/i/000/028/064/i02/antares-rocket-launch-viewing-map.jpg?1366084138)
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Doesn't look like this has already been posted...
https://twitter.com/OrbitalSciences/status/476011220235874305 (https://twitter.com/OrbitalSciences/status/476011220235874305)
< OrbitalSciences> We updated our #Orb2 CRS mission schedule from @NASA_Wallops to no earlier than July 1. See #Antares launch update: http://t.co/9TG3pspghV <orbital.com/NewsInfo/Missi?>
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From OSC:
Mission Update - June 9, 2014
Orbital has updated its Antares launch schedule for the Orb-2 mission to a date no earlier than (NET) July 1, 2014. Orb-2 is the second of eight cargo resupply missions to the International Space Station (ISS) under the company’s Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract with NASA. The new launch schedule reflects the timing of the investigation into the cause of an AJ26 engine failure that occurred in late May at NASA’s Stennis Space Center during customary acceptance testing. All other elements of the Orb-2 mission are prepared to move forward, including the Cygnus spacecraft, which is fueled and, except for late-load cargo, is packed with its manifest of ISS cargo.
The engine that failed was designated for use in a 2015 CRS mission and was undergoing hot fire testing that all Antares AJ26 engines are subject to in order to ensure nominal performance and acceptance for use in Antares missions. The investigation into the failure is being led by the Antares main stage propulsion supplier, Aerojet Rocketdyne, with Orbital and NASA engineers also supporting the effort. Once the investigation team reaches the point in their process that they can clear Antares to launch the Orb-2 mission, a targeted launch date will be established. For now, NET July 1 is simply a planning date. Please check back to this page for further updates.
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Here's an article for the latest change of schedule:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/06/commercial-duo-refine-upcoming-launch-dates/
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Another delay.
NET July 10 at 2:02pm Eastern
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Thanks Chris!
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NASA Wallops @NASA_Wallops
@OrbitalSciences is targeting NET July 10 for its next ISS resupply mission from Wallops/MARS Pad 0A. 2:20:51 p.m. EDT scheduled lift-off.
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A little elaboration on Orbital's mission update page:
http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/MissionUpdates/Orb-2/
Mission Update – June 23, 2014
Orbital has updated its launch schedule for the Orb-2 mission to a date no earlier than July 10, 2014. Orb-2 is the second of eight cargo resupply missions to the International Space Station (ISS) under the company’s Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract with NASA. The new launch schedule reflects progress in the investigation into the cause of an AJ26 engine test failure and identification of specific actions to clear the Orb-2 mission for flight.
The Antares team will inspect the AJ26 engines installed on the Orb-2 rocket this week, and a decision to proceed toward launch will be based on the results of the inspections. All other elements of the Orb-2 mission are prepared to move forward, including the Cygnus spacecraft, which is fueled and, except for late-load cargo, is packed with its manifest of ISS cargo.
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There goes that day - next Arianespace Soyuz launch is just 30 minutes after Cygnus launches (18:55 UTC vs 18:20 UTC)..... ;)
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There goes that day - next Arianespace Soyuz launch is just 30 minutes after Cygnus launches (18:55 UTC vs 18:20 UTC)..... ;)
Beats the 1st of July, now we can watch the Delta II ;)
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There goes that day - next Arianespace Soyuz launch is just 30 minutes after Cygnus launches (18:55 UTC vs 18:20 UTC)..... ;)
Still an emphasis on the No-Earlier-Than and they still have more work to do.
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The mission patch
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Countdown now on the main NASA page
http://www.nasa.gov/
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NASA's Orb-2 Mission Patch
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Does this Cygnus have a name yet ?
According to the mission patch it is named "Janice Voss".
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@OrbitalSciences We are targeting July 11 at 1:40 p.m. (EDT) for #Orb2 mission to #ISS under #CRS contract with @NASA http://t.co/C4ktKtQovW
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July 3, 2014
MEDIA ADVISORY M14-115
NASA Television Coverage Set for Orbital-2 Mission to Space Station
Orbital Sciences Corp.’s Antares rocket for the Orb-2 cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station is lifted onto the Transporter/Erector/Launcher (TEL). The stage one core for the next mission, Orb-3, is on the left. Orbital is scheduled to launch its Cygnus cargo spacecraft to the space station on July 11 from the Mid-Atlantic Spaceport’s Pad 0A at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.
NASA Television will provide live coverage of the upcoming Orbital Sciences Corp.'s mission to resupply the International Space Station.
Orbital's Cygnus cargo spacecraft is scheduled to launch from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport's Launch Pad 0A at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on Friday, July 11 at 1:40 p.m. EDT.
NASA TV will air a comprehensive video feed of launch preparations and other footage related to the mission beginning at 12:30 p.m. Launch coverage on NASA TV will begin at 1 p.m.
On Thursday, July 10, media briefings previewing the mission's science cargo and a prelaunch status from Wallops will be broadcast on NASA TV at 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively.
The Cygnus will be filled with more than 3,000 pounds of supplies for the station, including science experiments to expand the research capability of the Expedition 40 crew members aboard the orbiting laboratory, crew provisions, spare parts and experiment hardware.
Among the research investigations headed to the space station aboard Orbital-2 are a flock of nanosatellites that are designed to take images of Earth, developed by Planet Labs of San Francisco; and a satellite-related investigation called TechEdSat-4 built by NASA's Ames Research Center in California, which aims to develop technology that will eventually enable small samples to be returned to Earth from the space station. In addition, a host of student experiments are being flown in association with the Student Spaceflight Experiment Program, an initiative of the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education and NanoRacks.
This and future commercial cargo resupply flights will ensure a robust national capability to deliver critical science research to orbit, significantly increasing NASA's ability to conduct new science investigations to the only laboratory in microgravity.
If Cygnus launches as scheduled, the spacecraft will arrive at the space station on Tuesday, July 15. Station commander Steven Swanson of NASA and Flight Engineer Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency will be standing by in the station’s cupola to capture the resupply craft with the station's robotic arm and install it on the Earth-facing port of the station's Harmony module.
NASA TV coverage of capture and installation will begin at 6:15 a.m. on July 15. Grapple is scheduled at approximately 7:24 a.m. Coverage of the installation of Cygnus onto Harmony will begin at 9:30 a.m.
For a full update of media activities and more information on the Orbital-2 mission, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/orbital
For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and scheduling information, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv
For video b-roll and media resources on the International Space Station, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/stationnews
For more information about International Space Station, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/station
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Mission Update – July 3, 2014
Orbital has established July 11, 2014 as the targeted date for the launch of the Orb-2 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), the second operational cargo resupply mission under the company’s Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract with NASA. The targeted launch time from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on July 11 will be 1:40 p.m. (EDT).
The engineering team that is investigating the failure of an AJ26 engine during an acceptance test at Stennis Space Center recommended that certain inspections be performed on the two AJ26 engines that are currently integrated on the Antares rocket. These inspections were recently completed and program officials have cleared the rocket for flight.
Leading up to the launch, the Cygnus cargo logistics spacecraft will be mated to the rocket today. After the loading of the final time sensitive cargo and installation of the rocket’s payload fairing, Antares will be rolled out to the launch pad on July 9. A launch on July 11 will result in a rendezvous and berthing with the ISS on July 15. The Cygnus spacecraft will deliver 1,657 kg of cargo to the ISS and will be loaded with approximately 1,346 kg of material for disposal upon reentry into Earth’s atmosphere.
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From NASA:
Orbital Sciences and the International Space Station Program officially have set Friday, July 11, as the launch date for the Antares rocket and the Cygnus cargo craft on the Orbital-2 resupply mission to the space station.
Launch time on July 11 is 1:40:27 p.m. EDT from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. NASA Television coverage will begin at 1 p.m.
A launch on July 11 will result in the rendezvous and grapple of Cygnus by Expedition 40 Commander Steve Swanson of NASA and Flight Engineer Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency at 7:24 a.m. on Tuesday, July 15. Rendezvous coverage on NASA TV will begin at 6:15 a.m.
NASA TV also will provide coverage of Cygnus’ berthing to Harmony beginning at 9:30 a.m.
Cygnus will remain berthed to the station until August 15.
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Was there a NASA patch for ORB-D and ORB -1? If so where can they be seen at? Thanks Joe
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Was there a NASA patch for ORB-D and ORB -1? If so where can they be seen at? Thanks Joe
Collectspace website
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Non on Collect Space web site. Does anyone know if NASA had their own patch for ORB-D and ORB-1 as they have for ORB-2. If so.. can someone post them on here pleased or post a link to them. Thanks
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Was there a NASA patch for ORB-D and ORB -1? If so where can they be seen at? Thanks Joe
The ORB-1? http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=33044.msg1130169#msg1130169
ORB-D? http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/MissionUpdates/Orb-D1/
Orbital Gift Store (scroll to page 14): http://www.orbital.com/CompanyStore/files/Catalog.pdf#search="Orb-1 patch"
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I didn't see the NOTMAR posted, so here it is. Has the following approximate times for launches:
July 11, 1330-1500 EDT (Scheduled launch day)
July 12, 1300-1430 EDT (Backup day)
July 13, 1245-1415 EDT (Backup day)
July 14, 1215-1345 EDT (Backup day)
July 15, 1200-1330 EDT (Backup day)
July 16, 1130-1300 EDT (Backup day)
July 17, 1100-1230 EDT (Backup day)
Can't attend as I'm getting married on July 12. Might be able to see the launch from southern Maryland, though. ;-)
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big window each day .. wow 30 mins.. I guess that is approx... give or take 20 mins
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Can't attend as I'm getting married on July 12.
Congratulations and best wishes!
- Ed Kyle
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Was there a NASA patch for ORB-D and ORB -1? If so where can they be seen at? Thanks Joe
The ORB-1? http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=33044.msg1130169#msg1130169
ORB-D? http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/MissionUpdates/Orb-D1/
Orbital Gift Store (scroll to page 14): http://www.orbital.com/CompanyStore/files/Catalog.pdf#search="Orb-1 patch"
These patches are the Orbital patches, not the ones from NASA...
(assuming that there are NASA patches for these missions).
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Recently issued fact sheet for Orbital-2 mission - includes cargo summary & research highlights (2 pages):
http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/orb2-factsheet.pdf (http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/orb2-factsheet.pdf)
(copy also attached)
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So does anyone have a picture of the CRS Orb-2 (the one from Orbital not NASA) that is bigger than the tiny thumbnail they have had on their website for weeks.
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Update:
Antares Fairing Installed
The payload fairing is installed on the Orbital Sciences Antares rocket at the Horizontal Integration Facility at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia's Eastern Shore, Tuesday, July 8, 2014. The Antares rocket is scheduled to roll-out to Virginia's Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Pad 0A Wednesday, July 9, ahead of its scheduled launch July 11.
The Antares rocket will carry Orbital's unmanned Cygnus spacecraft to the International Space Station. This Orbital-2 mission's cargo is more than 3,000 pounds of supplies for the station, including science experiments to expand the research capability of the Expedition 40 crew members aboard the orbiting laboratory, crew provisions, spare parts and experiment hardware.
Image Credit: NASA's Wallops Flight Facility
http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/antares-fairing-installed (http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/antares-fairing-installed)
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NASA Orbital-2 Press Kit
http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/Orb2_PRESS_KIT.pdf
Cygnus will be detached from the station August 15 and be guided to a safe distance away from the orbiting laboratory. The Cygnus spacecraft will fly up to an additional 15 days after departure to conduct spacecraft engineering tests to support future mission objectives.
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So does anyone have a picture of the CRS Orb-2 (the one from Orbital not NASA) that is bigger than the tiny thumbnail they have had on their website for weeks.
Still not very big, or of high quality (click to slightly enlarge).
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Mission Update – July 9, 2014
The final cargo for the Orb-2 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) the was loaded into the Cygnus spacecraft early yesterday morning and the hatch was closed. The Antares payload fairing was then istalled in advance of roll out of the rocket to the launch pad which is scheduuled to occur this morning. Orb-2 is the second operational cargo resupply mission under the company’s Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract with NASA. The targeted launch time from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on July 11 will be 1:40 p.m. (EDT).
A launch on July 11 will result in a rendezvous and berthing with the ISS on July 15. The Cygnus spacecraft will deliver 1,657 kg of cargo to the ISS and will be loaded with approximately 1,346 kg of material for disposal upon reentry into Earth’s atmosphere.
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Orbital Sciences@OrbitalSciences
Roll-out of #Antares rocket to MARS pad at @NASA_Wallops scheduled for ~12:30 pm EDT. Thunderstorm last night pushed sked back. @NASA #Orb2
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Here's the associated release:
ISS COMMERCIAL RESUPPLY SERVICES MISSION (ORB-2)
Mission Update – July 9, 2014
Orbital announced today that the launch of Antares for the Orb-2 Commercial Resupply Services mission to the International Space Station has been rescheduled for Saturday, July 12 at 1:14 p.m. EDT. Due to severe thunderstorms in the Wallops area the night of Tuesday, July 8, the rollout of the Antares rocket to its launch pad at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport scheduled for this morning was delayed resulting in a compression of the operational schedule leading to the launch. This afternoon, the company’s launch team determined the best course of action would be to postpone the launch one day to allow for normal launch operations processing. Despite the one day schedule slip, Cygnus will still arrive at the ISS on July 15 with berthing scheduled at approximately 7:24 a.m. EDT.
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July 9, 2014
NASA TV Coverage Set for Saturday Orbital-2 Mission to Space Station
NASA Television will provide live coverage of the upcoming Orbital Sciences' mission to resupply the International Space Station. Orbital's Cygnus cargo spacecraft is schedule to launch from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport's Launch Pad 0A at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on Saturday, July 12 at 1:14 p.m. EDT.
Weather conditions at Wallops Tuesday night delayed the scheduled rollout of Orbital's Antares rocket to the launch pad Wednesday, prompting the company to delay launch by a day.
NASA TV will air a comprehensive video feed of launch preparations and other footage related to the mission beginning at noon. Launch coverage on NASA TV will begin at 12:30 p.m. A post-launch news conference will be held at 2:45 p.m.
On Friday, July 11, media briefings previewing the mission's science cargo and a prelaunch status from Wallops will be broadcast on NASA TV at 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively.
Media also may join the briefings by phone. To obtain dial-in information, media must contact Rachel Kraft at [email protected] with their name and media affiliation no later than 30 minutes before the beginning of each briefing. The public also may ask questions on social media using the hashtag #AskNASA.
The Cygnus will be filled with approximately 3,300 pounds of supplies for the station, including science experiments to expand the research capability of the space station's Expedition 40 crew members aboard the station, crew provisions, spare parts and experiment hardware.
Among the research investigations headed to the orbital laboratory are a flock of nanosatellites designed to take images of Earth, developed by Planet Labs of San Francisco, and a satellite-based investigation called TechEdSat-4 built by NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California, which aims to develop technology that eventually will enable small samples to be returned to Earth from the space station. In addition, a host of student experiments are on board as part of the Student Spaceflight Experiment Program, an initiative of the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education and NanoRacks.
This and future commercial cargo resupply flights will ensure a robust national capability to deliver critical science research to orbit, significantly increasing NASA's ability to conduct new science investigations to the only laboratory in microgravity.
If Cygnus launches as scheduled, the spacecraft will arrive at the space station on Tuesday, July 15. Station commander Steven Swanson of NASA and Flight Engineer Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency will be standing by in the station’s cupola to capture the resupply craft with the station's robotic arm and install it on the Earth-facing port of the station's Harmony module.
NASA TV coverage of capture and installation will begin at 6:15 a.m. on July 15. Grapple is scheduled at approximately 7:24 a.m. Coverage of the installation of Cygnus onto Harmony will begin at 9:30 a.m.
For a full update of media activities and more information on the Orbital-2 mission, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/orbital
For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and scheduling information, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv
For video b-roll and media resources on the International Space Station, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/stationnews
For more information about International Space Station, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/station
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Vehicle was rolled out overnight to the pad: https://secure.flickr.com/photos/nasahqphoto/sets/72157645197248990/
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A reminder, we will move to the live launch day thread on Friday night/Saturday morning. Then another live thread for RNDZ and Berthing.
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PHOTO CUTLINE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 10. 2014
ORBITAL’S ANTARES ROCKET ROLLS OUT TO MID-ATLANTIC REGIONAL SPACEPORT LAUNCH PAD FOR UPCOMING MISSION TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
(Wallops Island, VA 10 July 2014) – Today, Orbital Sciences Corporation’s (NYSE: ORB) operations team rolled out the Antares rocket carrying the Cygnus cargo logistics resupply vehicle for its launch to the International Space Station. The Orb-2 mission is scheduled to launch from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport located at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Eastern Virginia on Saturday, July 12.
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Another photo from the rollout.
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CAPCOM stated during the DPC that a reboost scheduled for next Thursday will be tomorrow due to the delay of the Cygnus launch. Hopefully that launch delay is not a new one from Saturday but there was also a private Mission Director conference before the DPC so I'm getting a little worried something hasn't been announced yet...
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CAPCOM stated during the DPC that a reboost scheduled for next Thursday will be tomorrow due to the delay of the Cygnus launch. Hopefully that launch delay is not a new one from Saturday but there was also a private Mission Director conference before the DPC so I'm getting a little worried something hasn't been announced yet...
The crew just asked CAPCOM to restore the streaming video feed and Houston replied that the Antares is almost vertical so I'm glad I was just being paranoid :)
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Pre-launch Activities Complete for Supply Mission to ISS
Published on Jul 10, 2014
Orbital Sciences Corporation has completed pre-launch processing and rollout of its Antares rocket and Cygnus cargo craft at Wallops Flight Facility. Launch opportunities for the Orbital-2 mission to the International Space Station begin July 12. Orb-2 is the company's second operational resupply mission to the ISS under its Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA. The Cygnus spacecraft is delivering almost 33-hundred pounds of cargo, including science experiments to expand the research capability of the Expedition 40 crew onboard the station.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAbni7TDJ_U
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So does anyone have a picture of the CRS Orb-2 (the one from Orbital not NASA) that is bigger than the tiny thumbnail they have had on their website for weeks.
Still not very big, or of high quality (click to slightly enlarge).
Orbital just posted a better one:
The gold astronaut emblem on the #Orb2 mission patch honors Janice Voss, former Orbital employee/NASA astronaut http://ow.ly/i/6bSI3
-Bob
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More NASA photos of the rocket being raised at the pad:
https://secure.flickr.com/photos/nasahqphoto/sets/72157645203859287/
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Antares Rocket Raised on Launch Pad
Published on Jul 10, 2014
The Orbital Sciences Corporation Antares rocket, with the Cygnus spacecraft onboard, is seen in this time-lapse movie as it is raised at launch Pad-0A, Thursday, July 10, 2014, at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The Antares will launch with the Cygnus spacecraft filled with over 3,000 pounds of supplies for the International Space Station, including science experiments, experiment hardware, spare parts, and crew provisions. The Orbital-2 mission is Orbital Sciences' second contracted cargo delivery flight to the space station for NASA. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOJXiXGt7ls
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Now NET Sunday, due to poor weather hampering the pad flow.
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ISS Commercial Resupply Services Mission (Orb-2)
Mission Update – July 11, 2014
Orbital announced this morning that the launch of the Antares rocket for the Orb-2 Commercial Resupply Services mission to the International Space Station for NASA has been rescheduled for Sunday, July 13 at 12:52 p.m. EDT. Over the past several days, Orbital’s launch team has made great progress in preparing the rocket for the Orb-2 mission, which will be the fourth flight of Antares in the past 15 months. However, severe weather in the Wallops area has repeatedly interrupted the team’s normal operational schedule leading up to the launch. As a result, these activities have taken longer than expected. Orbital has decided to postpone the Orb-2 mission by an additional day in order to maintain normal launch operations processing. With its launch moved to Sunday, Cygnus is now scheduled to arrive at the ISS on Wednesday, July 16 with grapple by the station’s robotic arm scheduled for approximately 6:37 a.m. EDT. Cygnus is carrying about 3,300 pounds of supplies for the Station including research investigations, crew provisions, hardware, and science experiments from across the country.
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Missing the World Cup Final by just 2 hours! Phew.....
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Space Station live update mentioned a science/payload update at 3pm, not sure if that was eastern or central US...
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Space Station live update mentioned a science/payload update at 3pm, not sure if that was eastern or central US...
3:00 PM Central--4:00 PM ET
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July 11, 2014
MEDIA ADVISORY M14-120
NASA TV Coverage Reset for Sunday Orbital-2 Mission to Space Station
NASA Television will provide live coverage of the upcoming Orbital Sciences' mission to resupply the International Space Station. Orbital's Cygnus cargo spacecraft is schedule to launch from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport's Launch Pad 0A at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on Sunday, July 13 at 12:52 p.m. EDT.
Severe weather in the Wallops area throughout the week repeatedly interrupted Orbital’s operations schedule leading up to the launch, resulting in the company deciding to postpone launch to Sunday.
NASA TV will air a comprehensive video feed of launch preparations and other footage related to the mission beginning at 11:30 a.m. Launch coverage on NASA TV will begin at noon. A post-launch news conference will be held about an hour-and-a-half after launch.
On Saturday, July 12, a prelaunch status from Wallops will be broadcast on NASA TV at 1 p.m. A media briefing previewing the science and technology cargo headed to the space station will still occur at 4 p.m. today, as previously planned.
Media also may join the briefings by phone. To obtain dial-in information, media must contact Rachel Kraft at [email protected] with their name and media affiliation no later than 30 minutes before the beginning of each briefing. The public also may ask questions on social media using the hashtag #AskNASA.
The Cygnus will be filled with approximately 3,300 pounds of supplies for the station, including science experiments to expand the research capability of the space station's Expedition 40 crew members aboard the station, crew provisions, spare parts and experiment hardware.
Among the research investigations headed to the orbital laboratory are a flock of nanosatellites designed to take images of Earth, developed by Planet Labs of San Francisco, and a satellite-based investigation called TechEdSat-4 built by NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California, which aims to develop technology that eventually will enable small samples to be returned to Earth from the space station. In addition, a host of student experiments are on board as part of the Student Spaceflight Experiment Program, an initiative of the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education and NanoRacks.
This and future commercial cargo resupply flights will ensure a robust national capability to deliver critical science research to orbit, significantly increasing NASA's ability to conduct new science investigations to the only laboratory in microgravity.
If Cygnus launches as scheduled, the spacecraft will arrive at the space station on Wednesday, July 16. Station commander Steven Swanson of NASA and Flight Engineer Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency will be standing by in the station’s cupola to capture the resupply craft with the station's robotic arm and install it on the Earth-facing port of the station's Harmony module.
NASA TV coverage of capture will begin at 5:15 a.m. on July 16. Grapple is scheduled at approximately 6:37 a.m. Installation coverage of Cygnus onto Harmony will begin at 8:30 a.m.
For a full update of media activities and more information on the Orbital-2 mission, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/orbital
For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and scheduling information, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv
For video b-roll and media resources on the International Space Station, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/stationnews
For more information about International Space Station, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/station
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Orbital Sciences Corporation Antares rocket
Orbital Sciences Corporation's Cygnus spacecraft will launch atop an Antares rocket carrying more than 3,000 pounds of supplies to the International Space Station, including science experiments, experiment hardware, spare parts, and crew provisions.
Image Credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani
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Here's a pair of live views from NASA TV.
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Orbital Sciences Conducts Final Cargo Loading, Payload Fairing Installation and Rollout
http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8983
Orbital Sciences/Cygnus-2 Science and Technology Cargo News Conference
http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8984
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Antares media schedule change for July 12
We are moving the Antares Pre-Launch briefing to 4:30 p.m., tomorrow, July 12, in the NASA Visitor Center. It was scheduled for 1 p.m. It will still air on NASA-TV.
We are still on schedule to set up the remote cameras at 2 p.m.
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Per L2 they are working an issue that could delay launch (but there's a good chance it won't). If we know either way, I'll post here.
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Well looks like all is good now as they've approved tomorrow's attempt! :)
There's apparently a briefing coming up. If someone wants to cover, it'd be appreciated. If not there will be a video replay posted here, obviously.
After that, live thread for tomorrow.
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5 minutes to the brief
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ISS is ready to receive the Cygnus. Carrying a kit to allow future replenishment of nitrogen and Oxygen
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Frank Culbertson--the engine test failure was a "technical issue" :)
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explaining naming of the vehicle as the Janice Voss
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Frank Cuthbertson explaining the challenges of support: resupply, political, ETC
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showing video of late load of time critical payloads
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pics of vehicle loading
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90% chance of acceptable Wx
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Sarah Daugherty
90% probability of good conditions to launch
good visibility from a ways away due to conditions
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who will ask the first question about the test failure?
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question #1
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engine #17 was involved
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audience
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a nebulous description of ensuring "proper configuration of critical components" identified as possible sources of the failure on the Orb-2 vehicle with no other details
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question #2 to Sarah on a weekend launch at this time of year with boaters
Mentions they actually visit the boaters
'Danger Zone' 30 nm hazard area
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Robert Pearlman
5000th day of continuous crewed ops on ISS today!!
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Dan Hartman on the phone adding the number of years on orbit, testing the maturation of hardware on orbit & the challenges to 'buy down' the risk for BEO exploration, cutting edge technology demonstrations, and experience
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an odd question about polluting the atlantic ocean with space trash which actually burns up...
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Freelance writer asking about the trash disposal from the ISS that coulgoes into the oceans adding garbage in to it, but Dan Hartman noting they choose trajectoris for vehicles so that they all completely burn up in the atmosphere.
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another shot at the engine failure--claiming can't get into details
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Phone call for Frank
Notes no additional notes being offered on other customers for the Antares vehicle
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SpaceX 4 on Sep 12 for now
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Q from Irene for Dan & SPaceX launch: SpaceX on Sept 12;
RFP on CRS2: RFI sent out but will look into it
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Engine inspection was by borescope & port for access to areas of interest
Results were as expected
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post failure inspections via bore scopes and non-invasive visual inspections
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Frank: Looking at new profiles for re-entry, and saving fuel for others aspect of flight
Allows experiments for other users to stay longer in space.
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Frank (on weather): they never give us 100%
5 min launch window (typical from Wallops)
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Q from Janet: wildlife mitigation by launching in July?
A: Mitigation for species called 'Fragmites?' in place
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Orb 3 in October with 3 more launches next year
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Frank (on the future): 1 launch in Oct
3 next year
3 vehicles under construction
preps on-going for next 3
Building steadily
Will maintain this schedule with the traffic & schedule
Applauds NASA for pushing this
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Frank: 4 more days of launch window availability
Progress launch in July which can be a problem
Beyond those days: 'Let's not go there'
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Janet: Notes on Radio frequency deconfliction
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end of coverage
PAO
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a slip to Monday will require frequency de-confliction with Cape assets but a plan is in place
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another pic of vehicle with ground crew access via a zoom boom
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another shot at the engine failure--claiming can't get into details
Details on the failure of a 40 year old Russian engine used on a US rocket can't possibly be ITAR restricted--can they ?
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Thanks so much for covering guys. You both rock.
Really enjoying listening to Mr. Culbertson. Very assured.
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Orbital Sciences/Cygnus-2 Pre-Launch News Conference
http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8985
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another shot at the engine failure--claiming can't get into details
Details on the failure of a 40 year old Russian engine used on a US rocket can't possibly be ITAR restricted--can they ?
Since they're modernized via AeroJet Rocketdyne each upgraded engine which contain Western components result in ITAR remaining and being reapplied to them the moment AR begins work on them.
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Details on the failure of a 40 year old Russian engine used on a US rocket can't possibly be ITAR restricted--can they ?
ITAR § 120.10 Technical data.
(a) Technical data means, for purposes of this subchapter:
(1) Information, other than software as defined in §120.10(a)(4), which is required for the design, development, production, manufacture, assembly, operation, repair, testing, maintenance or modification of defense articles.
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As far as I'm concerned, ITAR is just a codified excuse to hide the truth.
- Ed Kyle
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Users of Russian engines have to get an EXPORT license just to call tech support back east.
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Love the street signs in front of the Antares pad.
"International Space Station On-Ramp"
"Moon Ahead"
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Antares Rocket Preparation (201407120010HQ)
The Orbital Sciences Corporation Antares rocket, with the Cygnus spacecraft onboard, is seen on launch Pad-0A, Saturday, July 12, 2014, at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The launch is planned for Sunday, July 13 and will carry the Cygnus spacecraft filled with over 3,000 pounds of supplies for the International Space Station, including science experiments, experiment hardware, spare parts, and crew provisions. The Orbital-2 mission is Orbital Sciences' second contracted cargo delivery flight to the space station for NASA. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
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Orbital Set to Launch Cargo Delivery Mission to International Space Station
-- Company’s Upcoming Mission Is the Second of Eight Operational CargoMissions Under Commercial Resupply Services Contract With NASA --
-- Mission Marks the Fourth Flight of Antares Rocket and Third Deployment of Cygnus Spacecraft --
(Dulles, VA 12 July 2014) – Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB), one of the world’s leading space technology companies, today announced it is in final preparations to launch the company’s AntaresTM rocket carrying its CygnusTM cargo logistics spacecraft destined for the International Space Station (ISS). Pending completion of final vehicle testing and acceptable local weather conditions, the launch will take place on July 13 with lift-off targeted for 12:52 p.m. EDT. The launch will originate from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport located at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in eastern Virginia. The Antares medium-class rocket will boost the Cygnus spacecraft into a targeted orbit of 125 x 185 miles (200 x 300 kilometers) above the Earth, inclined at 51.6 degrees to the equator. Following in-orbit activation and testing after launch, Cygnus will rendezvous and berth with the ISS on July 16 at approximately 6:39 a.m. EDT. Live coverage of the Antares launch and Cygnus berthing with the ISS will be available on NASA Television at http://www.nasa.gov/ntv.
“With the first operational mission successfully completed earlier this year, we are now focused on regularly scheduled cargo delivery flights to the Space Station to support NASA and the astronauts who are carrying out vital research every day,” said Mr. David W. Thompson, Orbital’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Our team is focused and ready to execute another successful mission that will deliver necessary supplies to the crew aboard the Station.”
For the Orb-2 Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) mission, the Cygnus spacecraft is carrying 3,669 pounds (1,664 kilograms) of supplies to the Space Station, including science experiments to expand the research capability of the Expedition 40 crew members aboard the orbiting laboratory, along with crew provisions, spare parts and experiment hardware. Also onboard are 32 CubeSats, hardware for Japan’s JAXA Space Agency and numerous student science experiments. This mission, together with future Cygnus flights, will ensure a robust national capability to deliver critical research equipment and samples to orbit, significantly increasing NASA’s ability to conduct new scientific investigations in the only laboratory in microgravity.
Under the $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 through late 2016. For each mission, NASA will manifest a variety of essential items based on ISS program needs, including food, clothing, crew supplies, spare parts and equipment, and important scientific experiments.
Orbital developed the Antares launch vehicle to provide low-cost, reliable access to space for medium-class payloads. It is the largest and most complex rocket the company has ever produced. Under the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) joint research and development initiative with NASA, Orbital also developed the Cygnus spacecraft, which is an advanced maneuvering vehicle that meets the stringent human-rated safety requirements for ISS operations. Together, these products showcase Orbital’s ability to apply rigorous engineering approaches and commercial business practices to significantly shorten development timelines and lower operational costs of sophisticated space systems as compared to traditional government-run programs.
About Antares
The Antares medium-class launch vehicle represents a major increase in the payload launch capability that Orbital can provide to NASA, the U.S. Air Force and commercial customers compared to its heritage small-class space launch vehicles such as Pegasus, Taurus and Minotaur. The Antares rocket can launch spacecraft weighing up to 14,000 lbs. (6,400 kg.) into low-Earth orbit, as well as lighter-weight payloads into higher-energy orbits. Orbital’s newest launcher has completed three successful missions and is currently on-ramped to both the NASA Launch Services-2 and the U.S. Air Force’s Orbital/Suborbital Program-3 contracts, enabling the two largest U.S. government space launch customers to order Antares for “right-size and right-price” launch services for medium-class spacecraft. For more information on Antares, visit http://www.orbital.com/SpaceLaunch/Antares/.
About Cygnus
Orbital developed the Cygnus cargo spacecraft as part of its COTS joint research and development initiative with NASA. Cygnus consists of a common Service Module (SM) and a Pressurized Cargo Module (PCM). The SM incorporates avionics, power and propulsion systems already successfully flown aboard dozens of Orbital’s LEOStar™ and GEOStar™ satellite products. The PCM, designed and built by Thales Alenia Space under a subcontract from Orbital, is based on the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) used with the Space Shuttle. For more information on Cygnus, visit http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/Publications/Cygnus_fact.pdf.
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Antares Givien a "Go" for Launch Sunday
At a Launch Readiness Review Saturday, managers for Orbital Sciences Corp. of Dulles, Virginia, and NASA gave a “go" to proceed toward the Sunday, July 13 launch of the Orb-2 cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station. Orbital is targeting a 12:52 p.m. EDT launch from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Pad 0A at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. NASA Television coverage of the launch will begin at noon.
There is a 90 percent chance of favorable weather at the time of launch.
NASA TV will broadcast a prelaunch news briefing today from the Wallops visitors center at 4:30 p.m. The briefing will be carried live on NASA TV and the agency's website at http://www.nasa.gov/ntv.
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Mission Update – July 12, 2014
The Launch Readiness Review for the Orb-2 Commercial Resupply Services mission to the International Space Station (ISS) was successfully conducted today, formally clearing Antares to launch. Pending completion of final vehicle testing and acceptable local weather conditions, the launch will take place on July 13 with lift-off targeted for 12:52 p.m. EDT. To read Orbital's "Set to Launch" news release, click here.
Antares will launch Orbital's Cygnus spacecraft carrying 1,664 kg (3,669 pounds) of supplies for the Station including research investigations, crew provisions, hardware, and science experiments from across the country. Cygnus is scheduled to arrive at the ISS on Wednesday, July 16 with grapple by the Station’s robotic arm scheduled for approximately 6:39 a.m. EDT.
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Q from Janet: wildlife mitigation by launching in July?
A: Mitigation for species called 'Fragmites?' in place
phragmites australis, aka common reed. It is native to the area, but the european subspecies is considered an invasive species that pushes out other wetland vegetation. Phragmites control is an ongoing problem in the region. Wallops probably has a large stand of the domestic variety that get scorched during launch; post-launch fires have been common.
-Bob
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At Wallops for the launch briefing waiting for it to start.
Fantastic day out here, good energy. Feels like a very good shot seeing this thing go!!
Go Antares!
Go Cygnus!
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Did anyone see an update to the red team and value issues?
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Nothing mentioned at this mornings briefing of any issues being worked.