Latest Launch-Day Forecast for Orbital ATK’s CRS-9

The three-days-out launch range forecast has been issued for Orbital ATK’s Antares rocket with Cygnus cargo spacecraft on the company’s CRS-9 resupply mission to the International Space Station. There is a very slight chance of thick clouds over the region for the launch attempt, scheduled for 5:04 a.m. EDT on May 20 from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

The main weather concern for the launch attempt is sky screen. Low-level cloudiness (1,000-foot ceilings) is expected for the launch window on the morning of May 20.

A persistent wet and unsettled weather pattern will remain over the Wallops region through Saturday, providing numerous chances of showers and thunderstorms. A quasi-stationary frontal boundary will move north of the Wallops region Saturday as a warm front, while a final piece of upper level energy will move through the Wallops region Saturday morning and afternoon, with a chance of showers and possibly thunderstorms.

Weak upper level energy will move east of the Wallops Region Saturday night into Sunday morning in combination with a Bermuda high pressure system building into the Wallops region to end precipitation chances. However, there will be a slight chance of a lingering rain shower during the beginning of the count.

Cargo Loading For Orbital ATK’s CRS-9 Cygnus Spacecraft

Orbital ATK’s Cygnus spacecraft was filled with late-load cargo on May 15, 2018, in preparation for the company’s CRS-9 resupply mission to the International Space Station. The Cygnus, dubbed the S.S. J.R. Thompson, is scheduled for launch aboard an Orbital ATK Antares rocket at 5:04 a.m. EDT on May 20 from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

CRS-9 Late-Cargo Loading
Orbital ATK staff add late-load cargo to the company’s Cygnus spacecraft on May 15, 2018, for the CRS-9 resupply mission to the International Space Station. Credit: Orbital ATK
CRS-9 Late-Cargo Loading
Orbital ATK staff add late-load cargo to the company’s Cygnus spacecraft on May 15, 2018, for the CRS-9 resupply mission to the International Space Station. Credit: Orbital ATK
CRS-9 Late-Cargo Loading
Orbital ATK staff add late-load cargo to the company’s Cygnus spacecraft on May 15, 2018, for the CRS-9 resupply mission to the International Space Station. Credit: Orbital ATK

How to Watch the Orbital ATK CRS-9 Antares Rocket Launch In Person

Orbital ATK is scheduled to launch its ninth contracted mission to the International Space Station in a five-minute window beginning at 4:39 a.m. EDT, Monday, May 21 from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

Populations all along the U.S. east coast will have the chance to catch a glimpse of the Antares rocket as it blasts the Cygnus cargo spacecraft on the way to orbit. Follow this launch blog for the latest mission status updates.

Map of locations and times on the U.S. East Coast for viewing the Antares rocket launch.
Map of locations and times on the U.S. East Coast for viewing the Antares rocket launch. Credit: Orbital ATK

Information for those planning to visit the NASA Wallops Visitor Center.

How to Watch the Orbital ATK CRS-9 Antares Rocket Launch Online

Orbital ATK Antares rocket at launchpad
An Orbital ATK Antares rocket with Cygnus spacecraft onboard at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

Orbital ATK is scheduled to launch its ninth contracted mission to the International Space Station in a five-minute window beginning at 4:39 a.m. EDT, Monday, May 21 from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

Live launch coverage will begin at 4 a.m. Eastern, Sunday, May 20. You can watch online:

www.nasa.gov/live
www.nasa.gov/nasatv

Live streams will also be shared on NASA’s Facebook page, by @NASA on Twitter and on YouTube (NASA Television.)

 

Cygnus Spacecraft for CRS-9 Rolls to Fueling Facility

At NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, Orbital ATK’s Cygnus cargo spacecraft was moved from payload processing to spacecraft fueling early on the morning of April 30.

The Cygnus for the CRS-9 mission — Orbital ATK’s ninth contracted cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station — is scheduled to launch aboard the company’s Antares rocket no earlier than 5:04 a.m. EDT May 20.

enclosed Cygnus spacecraft moved between buildings at NASA Wallops
Orbital ATK’s Cygnus spacecraft for the CRS-9 cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station is moved from a payload processing facility to a fueling facility on April 30 at NASA Wallops in Virginia. Credit: NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility/Kyle Hoppes
enclosed Cygnus spacecraft moved between buildings at NASA Wallops
Credit: NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility/Kyle Hoppes
enclosed Cygnus spacecraft moved between buildings at NASA Wallops
Credit: NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility/Kyle Hoppes
enclosed Cygnus spacecraft moved between buildings at NASA Wallops
Credit: NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility/Kyle Hoppes

Launch will be from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport’s Pad-0A at NASA Wallops.

Cargo resupply by 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 in the world’s only microgravity laboratory.

More information about Orbital ATK’s cargo resupply work with NASA: https://www.nasa.gov/orbitalatk

Antares Post-Launch Briefing Concludes; Blog Coverage Wraps

Orbital ATK’s Cygnus spacecraft is on its way to the International Space Station following a successful launch from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on Nov. 12, 2017, at 7:19 a.m. EST. Loaded with 7,400 pounds of crew supplies, hardware and research equipment, Cygnus is slated to arrive at the International Space Station on Nov. 14 at about 4:50 a.m. ET.

The Orbital ATK Antares rocket, with the Cygnus spacecraft aboard, launches from Pad-0A, Sunday, Nov. 12, 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. Photo Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

Cygnus Solar Array Deployment

Both solar arrays aboard Orbital ATK’s Cygnus spacecraft have been deployed, as of 9:15 a.m. EST.

Illustration of Orbital ATK’s Cygnus cargo spacecraft with solar arrays deployed.

Orbital ATKs cargo spacecraft lifted off on the company’s Antares rocket from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility at 7:19 a.m. EST on Nov. 12. A post-launch news conference is scheduled to begin on NASA TV at about 10:30 a.m. EST.

Liftoff!

The Orbital ATK Antares rocket, with the Cygnus spacecraft onboard, launches from Pad-0A, Sunday, Nov. 12, 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. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Orbital ATK’s Antares rocket carrying the Cygnus cargo spacecraft lifted off at 7:19 a.m. EST and is on its way to the International Space Station. About an hour and half after launch, commands will be given to deploy the spacecraft’s solar arrays.

Launch coverage will continue on NASA TV at http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv until shortly after spacecraft separation and then resume 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 10:30 a.m.

The cargo mission to the International Space Station is carrying about 7,400 pounds of supplies and payloads, including critical materials to directly support dozens of the more than 250 science and research investigations that will occur during the space station’s Expeditions 53 and 54.

Nov. 12 Antares Launch: Live Commentary Begins

NASA Television commentary has begun. Watch live: http://www.nasa.gov/live.

Countdown is continuing for the Nov. 12 launch of the eighth Orbital ATK contracted cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station. The Cygnus spacecraft is set to lift off on an Antares rocket from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Weather is 95 percent favorable for the launch, which has a five-minute window opening at 7:14 a.m. EST.

Credit: NASA

The cargo mission to the International Space Station will carry about 7,400 pounds of supplies and payloads, including critical materials to directly support dozens of the more than 250 science and research investigations that will occur during the space station’s Expeditions 53 and 54.

Fueling Begins for This Morning’s Antares Launch

Credit: NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility

With about 90 minutes until the launch window opens at 7:14 a.m. EST Nov. 12, fueling of Orbital ATK’s Antares rocket with liquid oxygen and rocket-grade kerosene is underway at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on Viriginia’s Eastern Shore. Current weather forecast for launch is 95 percent favorable.

Live video of the pad is available on Wallops’ Ustream. Launch commentary will begin at 6:45 a.m. on NASA TV.