First Look: Antares Launch Photos

Orbital ATK’s Antares rocket carrying the Cygnus cargo spacecraft lifted off at 4:44 a.m. EDT and is on its way to the International Space Station. At the time of launch, the space station was traveling at an altitude of about 250 miles, over the central south Atlantic.

An hour and half after launch, commands will be given to deploy the spacecraft’s UltraFlex solar arrays. Launch coverage will resume on NASA TV at http://www.nasa.gov/live at about 5:45 a.m. for solar array deployment, which is expected to last about 30 minutes.

A post-launch news conference will follow and is scheduled to begin on NASA TV at approximately 7:00 a.m.

The Orbital ATK Antares rocket, with the Cygnus spacecraft aboard, launches from Pad-0A, Monday, May 21, 2018, at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Orbital ATK’s ninth contracted cargo resupply mission with NASA to the International Space Station will deliver about 7,400 pounds of science and research, crew supplies and vehicle hardware to the orbital laboratory and its crew. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
Credit: NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility/Allison Stancil

More CRS-9 Photos From NASA on Flickr