Antares - Cygnus OA-5 - October 17, 2016 - DISCUSSION

[rayleighscatter]

Current estimated launch date: May/June 2016
Wallops Flight Facility Launch Pad 0A


First flight Antares 230
Return to flight @ Wallops LP 0A
Second attempt for first flight of Castor 30XL second stage
Third flight of Enhanced Cygnus
Orbital ATK's first orbital launch (as combined company)


Resources:

Orbital ATK GENERAL Forum Section:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=46.0

Orbital ATK (Antares/Cygnus) News Articles:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/tag/orbital/


==

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, ORB-1, and ORB-2).

[MattMason]

Current estimated launch date: May/June 2016
Wallops Flight Facility Launch Pad 0A


First flight Antares 230
Return to flight @ Wallops LP 0A
Second attempt for first flight of Castor 30XL second stage
Third flight of Enhanced Cygnus
Orbital ATK's first orbital launch (as combined company)


Resources:

Orbital ATK GENERAL Forum Section:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=46.0

Orbital ATK (Antares/Cygnus) News Articles:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/tag/orbital/


==

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, ORB-1, and ORB-2).

Progress is back, Extended Cygnus is flying, SpaceX is triumphant--let's get Antares back up and make it a great 2015-2016 for all the rocketship companies. (And, you too, Mr. Bezos.)

[Star One]

Isn't this the next Atlas mission, if not why are they jumping around with the numbering?

[Jim]

Isn't this the next Atlas mission, if not why are they jumping around with the numbering?

no, it is correct.  OA-6 is on Atlas

[baldusi]

Wasn't AO-6 supposed to launch on Atlas V after AO-5 on Antares 200, but then AO-5 was delayed?

[rayleighscatter]

Isn't this the next Atlas mission, if not why are they jumping around with the numbering?

I think earlier on, OA-5 on Antares was roughly scheduled to launch about March and OA-6 was supposed to launch around June but it sounds as if Antares got delayed a little, and the Atlas launch got moved up, so suddenly the two flights swapped places, after mission numbers had already been assigned.

[Robotbeat]

Favorite thing about Antares Return to Flight is that Wallops is just a ~2 hour drive from my house, and I know a really good spot to watch from (and I feel very bad saying it because of the heartbreak of all the Orbital engineers, but I am sort of disappointed I didn't see the ENORMOUS fireball of the last Antares from that close spot).

[Space Ghost 1962]

... but I am sort of disappointed I didn't see the ENORMOUS fireball of the last Antares from that close spot).

Be careful what you wish for. Even though great safety is practiced for very good reasons in keeping people away from danger, it is not always a pleasant spectacle to be close to a launch failure.

Took someone to the launch of the first F9 1.1 on a lark at the last moment, and while a bit rummy from lack of sleep got us close enough to feel the heat from those 9 1d's. Surrounded by young SX engineers, she enjoyed the spectacle of the pressure waves / brilliance / awe of the experience.  But being a physicist, she started calculating the energy and proximity.

When we watched the Antares launch failure (from a far greater distance), she remarked that perhaps we'd been too close to the Falcon, as the pressure wave would've knocked us off our feet not to mention airborne debris.

Have spent over 40 years with tinnitus from various events/sources. Have stories. Again - be careful what you wish for.

[Robotbeat]

But what a story to tell!

[grythumn]

Favorite thing about Antares Return to Flight is that Wallops is just a ~2 hour drive from my house, and I know a really good spot to watch from (and I feel very bad saying it because of the heartbreak of all the Orbital engineers, but I am sort of disappointed I didn't see the ENORMOUS fireball of the last Antares from that close spot).

What's your favorite spot? I like the old ferry dock; it's a little further than Arbuckle, but I like the angle better and it's not nearly as crowded.

-Bob

[ScaryDare]

On vacation with my wife and this was eastbound on I-10 just east of Houston.  (This morning). Cygnus was flying low.

Edit: feel free to move to an appropriate thread

[ScaryDare]

One more shot.

[Guinness_Harp]

This is the Pressurized Cargo Module and it's heading to KSC for the OA-6 mission.

[edkyle99]

This is the Pressurized Cargo Module and it's heading to KSC for the OA-6 mission.

Why is the PCM in Texas?  Early PCMs went directly from Italy to the launch site.

 - Ed Kyle

[Guinness_Harp]

It was shipped via ship and arrived at the Houston port.  Just a logistics convenience and timing.

[Chris Bergin]

Another article - this one full of cool quotes - for Antares' return:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/01/orbital-atk-antares-second-life/ - by Philip Sloss.

[Jim]

Why is the PCM in Texas?  Early PCMs went directly from Italy to the launch site.

OA-4 PCM went from Italy to the launch site via Savannah

[Confusador]

Why is the PCM in Texas?  Early PCMs went directly from Italy to the launch site.

OA-4 PCM went from Italy to the launch site via Savannah

Which intuitively makes more sense than Houston, but logistics are complicated and I suppose irrelevant.

[Chris Bergin]

And another great article on Antares 230, via Chris Gebhardt:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/02/orbital-atk-summer-debut-new-antares-230/

[robertross]

And another great article on Antares 230, via Chris Gebhardt:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/02/orbital-atk-summer-debut-new-antares-230/

Great scoop Chris G!