Thanks for Joining Us for Today’s Launch!

With Cygnus operating well in orbit and setting up for Sunday’s rendezvous following a spectacular liftoff this morning, the NASA Launch Blog for Antares/Cygnus is signing off. Here’s one more look at this morning’s launch from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, courtesy of NASA photographer Bill Ingalls.

Antares Cygnus Cargo Resupply

Solar Arrays Deployed, Cygnus on its Way to Station

Orbital Sciences confirmed that the two power-generating solar arrays on its Cygnus spacecraft have deployed as planned and the spacecraft is following its course to the International Space Station. The ground controllers have an extensive series of tasks still ahead of them before the cargo craft gets to the station, including a series of evaluations of the Cygnus systems.

Cygnus Flying on its Own!

For the first time a fully operational Cygnus spacecraft is flying on its own toward the International Space Station! The spent second stage of the Antares rocket separated as planned leaving the Cygnus to begin its series of automated processes under the watchful eyes of ground controllers from Orbital Sciences and NASA. Cheers break out inside the launch control area. The spacecraft will soon deploy its twin solar arrays.