Looking Ahead: OA-8 Launch Milestones on Nov. 12

On Nov. 12 Orbital ATK will launch its Cygnus spacecraft aboard an Antares rocket on a journey to the International Space Station from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. The five-minute launch window opens at 7:14 a.m. EST. Cygnus is carrying 7,400 pounds of crew supplies, hardware and scientific research equipment.

The Orbital ATK Antares rocket, with the Cygnus spacecraft aboard, is seen on launch Pad-0A, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017, at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Orbital ATK’s eighth contracted cargo resupply mission with NASA to the International Space Station will deliver approximately 7,400 pounds of science and research, crew supplies and vehicle hardware to the orbital laboratory and its crew. **Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls**

Milestones (Approximate Timing)

12:50 a.m. EST — live video of the launch pad airs on Wallops’ Ustream
6:45 a.m. — live launch commentary airs on NASA TV
7:14 a.m. — five-minute launch window opens
Launch + 3.7 seconds — liftoff
L+ 3 min., 34 sec. — main engine cutoff (MECO)
L+ 3 min., 40 sec. — first stage separation
L+ 4 min., 11 sec. — fairing separtaion
L+ 4 min., 16 sec. — interstage separtaion
L+ 4 min., 24 sec. — second stage ignition
L+ 7 min., 6 sec. — second stage burnout; orbit insertion
L+ 9 min., 6 sec. — Cygnus spacecraft separates — 121.3 miles altitude; 16,846 mph