NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility and Virginia’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport are set to support the launch of Northrop Grumman’s Antares rocket, carrying the company’s Cygnus cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station at 5:39 p.m. EST, Feb. 9.
The launch may be visible, weather permitting, to residents throughout the mid-Atlantic region and possibly the East Coast of the United States. This map indicates when (in seconds) and where to look up in the sky after liftoff:
When accessed from a smartphone browser, the Wallops Mission Status Center website can provide specific viewing information based on your location. Live coverage of the mission is scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. EST Feb. 9 on the Wallops video and audio Ustream sites.
For local launch-viewers, the NASA Visitor Center at Wallops opens at 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 9 (about four hours before launch). Additional locations for catching the launch are Robert Reed Park on Chincoteague Island or Beach Road spanning the area between Chincoteague and Assateague Islands. The beach at the Assateague Island National Seashore/Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge will not be open during the launch.
Find directions and more information about the Visitor Center at: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/visitorcenter.
Visitors are reminded that alcohol, pets and firearms are not allowed on the NASA Visitor Center grounds. Also, because of limited parking, over-size vehicles such as campers and recreational vehicles will not be able to park.
Guidance from NASA on drone use for viewing Wallops launches
Guidance for mariners (PDF)
Guidance for pilots (PDF)
Outside the predicted visibility area? NASA TV launch coverage and commentary, as well as streaming online at nasa.gov/live, will begin at 5:00 p.m. EST Feb. 9.
This will be Northrop Grumman’s 13th commercial resupply services mission. Cygnus will carry more than 8,000 pounds of crew supplies and hardware to the space station, including science and research in support of dozens of research investigations.