Launch Scrubbed

Tonight’s launch attempt of NASA commercial cargo provider Northrop Grumman’s  14th resupply mission to the International Space Station has been scrubbed.

The next potential launch opportunity for Northrop Grumman’s Antares rocket carrying the Cygnus cargo spacecraft would be Friday, Oct. 2, at 9:16 p.m. EDT from Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The latest Wallops Launch Range forecast puts weather for a Friday attempt at 90% favorable. At this time, the main weather concern for Friday evening will be a very slight chance of cloud ceilings.

A Friday launch would air live on NASA Television and the agency’s website beginning at 8:45 p.m. EDT.

New Launch Time Targeted: 9:43 p.m. EDT

Credit: NASA TV

The launch of Northrop Grumman’s Antares rocket carrying a Cygnus spacecraft with nearly 8,000 pounds of cargo and supplies for the International Space Station is now set for 9:43 p.m. EDT.

NASA commercial cargo provider Northrop Grumman is targeting tonight for the launch of its 14th resupply mission to the International Space Station.

Weather Upgraded to 90% Favorable for Tonight’s Launch

Credit: NASA TV

The Wallops Launch Range forecast has been upgraded to 90% favorable for tonight’s launch attempt of Northrop Grumman’s Antares rocket and Cygnus cargo spacecraft from the Mid-Atlantic Space Port’s Pad 0A at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. A five-minute launch window opens at 9:38 p.m. EDT. All systems are “go” at this time with no issues being worked.

Map of the Mid-Atlantic showing predictions for visibility of the NG CRS-14 launch from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The numbers in each colored circle represent the number of seconds after liftoff that the launch might become visible in the associated region. Viewing is dependent upon weather conditions and other factors, such as elevation and the extent to which one’s view of the horizon is obstructed. Credit: NASA Wallops

Live coverage and countdown commentary are also streaming on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitch, Daily Motion, and Theta.TV. The launch may also be visible to the naked eye in areas of the Mid Atlantic.

Loaded with nearly 8,000 pounds of research, crew supplies, and hardware, Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus cargo spacecraft will launch on the company’s Antares rocket from Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

Live Launch Commentary Now Airing for NG CRS-14

NASA commercial cargo provider Northrop Grumman is targeting tonight for the launch of its 14th resupply mission to the International Space Station. The five-minute launch window opens at 9:38 p.m. EDT. Live launch commentary has begun on NASA TV.

Map of the Mid-Atlantic showing predictions for visibility of the NG CRS-14 launch from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The numbers in each colored circle represent the number of seconds after liftoff that the launch might become visible in the associated region. Viewing is dependent upon weather conditions and other factors, such as elevation and the extent to which one’s view of the horizon is obstructed. Credit: NASA Wallops

Live coverage and countdown commentary are also streaming on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitch, Daily Motion, and Theta.TV. The launch may also be visible to the naked eye in areas of the Mid Atlantic.

Loaded with nearly 8,000 pounds of research, crew supplies, and hardware, Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus cargo spacecraft will launch on the company’s Antares rocket from Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

The Cygnus spacecraft, dubbed the SS Kalpana Chawla, will arrive at the space station Sunday, Oct. 4. Expedition 63 Commander Chris Cassidy of NASA will grapple Cygnus and Flight Engineer Ivan Vagner of Roscosmos will act as a backup. After Cygnus capture, mission control in Houston will send ground commands for the station’s robotic arm to rotate and install it on the bottom of the station’s Unity module. Cygnus is scheduled to remain at the space station until mid-December, when it will depart the station. Following departure, the Saffire-V experiment will be conducted prior to Cygnus deorbit and disposing of several tons of trash during a fiery re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere approximately two weeks later.

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Weather Upgraded to 80% Favorable for Tonight’s Launch Attempt

The forecast for the launch of Northrop Grumman’s Antares rocket from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia is now 80% favorable. The five-minute launch window opens at 9:38 p.m. EDT.

The countdown is underway, and the launch will air live on NASA Television and the agency’s website beginning at 9 p.m. EDT. The launch may also be visible to the naked eye in areas of the Mid Atlantic.

Image: A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket loaded with the company’s Cygnus resupply spacecraft is seen on the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport’s Pad-0A, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020, at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Photo Credit: NASA Wallops/Patrick Black

Countdown Clock Begins for Northrop Grumman CRS-14 Launch

The countdown has started for the launch of Northrop Grumman’s Antares rocket carrying a Cygnus spacecraft with nearly 8,000 pounds of cargo and supplies for the International Space Station. The five-minute launch window opens at 9:38 p.m. EDT.

NASA commercial cargo provider Northrop Grumman is targeting tonight for the launch of its 14th resupply mission to the International Space Station. The five-minute launch window opens at 9:38 p.m. EDT.

A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket loaded with the company’s Cygnus resupply spacecraft is seen on the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport’s Pad-0A, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020, at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Photo Credit: NASA Wallops/Patrick Black
Map of the Mid-Atlantic showing predictions for visibility of the NG CRS-14 launch from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The numbers in each colored circle represent the number of seconds after liftoff that the launch might become visible in the associated region. Viewing is dependent upon weather conditions and other factors, such as elevation and the extent to which one’s view of the horizon is obstructed. Credit: NASA Wallops

The launch may be visible, weather permitting and depending on other local conditions (such as elevation), to residents up and down the East Coast of the United States.

How to view the Northrop Grumman CRS-14 launch

Loaded with nearly 8,000 pounds of research, crew supplies, and hardware, Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus cargo spacecraft will launch on the company’s Antares rocket from Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

What’s on board?

The Cygnus spacecraft, dubbed the SS Kalpana Chawla, will arrive at the space station Sunday, Oct. 4. Expedition 63 Commander Chris Cassidy of NASA will grapple Cygnus and Flight Engineer Ivan Vagner of Roscosmos will act as a backup. After Cygnus capture, mission control in Houston will send ground commands for the station’s robotic arm to rotate and install it on the bottom of the station’s Unity module. Cygnus is scheduled to remain at the space station until mid-December, when it will depart the station. Following departure, the Saffire-V experiment will be conducted prior to Cygnus deorbit and disposing of several tons of trash during a fiery re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere approximately two weeks later.