Latest Weather Forecast for April 17 Antares Launch: 90% Favorable

The latest weather forecast stands at 90% favorable for the April 17 launch of Northrop Grumman’s Antares rocket from Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility. At this time, cloud ceilings, ground winds and thick clouds are the weather concerns for a launch attempt on Wednesday afternoon.

A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket is seen as it rolls out to Pad-0A, Monday, April 15, 2019, at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Northrop Grumman’s 11th contracted cargo resupply mission with NASA to the International Space Station will deliver about 7,500 pounds of science and research, crew supplies and vehicle hardware to the orbital laboratory and its crew. Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

NASA’s commercial partner Northrop Grumman is scheduled to launch its Antares rocket carrying its Cygnus cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station at 4:46 p.m. EDT Wednesday, April 17.

Loaded with 7,500 pounds of research, crew supplies and hardware, this is Northrop Grumman’s 11th commercial resupply NASA-contracted mission. It will launch from Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility.

High pressure builds into the region overnight through tomorrow, allowing winds to subside later this evening. Tranquil and seasonable conditions prevail tomorrow with the high located just to our south. Another area of high pressure dips south into the northeast states Tuesday night into Wednesday, forcing a cold front south over the Delmarva Wednesday morning, then eventually the Wallops area.