Author: Rob Garner

Weather Remains 70% Favorable for Oct. 1 NG-14 Launch

NASA commercial cargo provider Northrop Grumman is targeting Thursday, Oct. 1, 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.

This afternoon’s Wallops Launch Range forecast for Oct. 1 has weather remaining at 70% favorable, with the primary concerns being cloud ceilings and thick clouds.

A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket carrying a Cygnus resupply spacecraft is seen as it is transported to the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport’s Pad-0A, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Terry Zaperach)

An upper level trough and associated frontal boundary will approach the region tonight, providing more humid conditions along with scattered showers and thunderstorms later this afternoon and evening.

A weak low will develop along the front near the Carolinas. That will bring heavy rain and thunderstorm chances in the Wallops region tonight. There are additional rain chances through early morning Wednesday, Sept. 30.

A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket carrying a Cygnus resupply spacecraft arrives at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport’s Pad-0A, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Terry Zaperach)

Weak high pressure then briefly develops Wednesday into early Thursday, allowing for dry conditions and less clouds before weak upper level energy brings another chance for increased cloudiness and a very slight chance of a sprinkle Thursday night.

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.

Latest Weather Forecast For Oct. 1 NG-14 Launch Attempt

NASA commercial cargo provider Northrop Grumman is targeting 9:38 p.m. EDT Thursday, Oct. 1, for the launch of its 14th resupply mission to the International Space Station.

The latest Wallops Launch Range forecast for Oct. 1 puts weather at 70% favorable, with the primary concerns being thick clouds and cloud ceiling. 

An upper level trough and associated frontal boundary will approach the region on Tuesday, Sept. 29, providing scattered showers and thunderstorms for much of the day. A weak low will develop along the front near the Carolinas. That will enhance thunderstorm and heavy rain chances
across the Wallops Region Tuesday night. There are additional heavy rain and thunderstorm chances through mid-morning Wednesday, Sept. 30.

Weak high pressure briefly develops Wednesday into early Thursday, Oct. 1, allowing for dry conditions and less clouds before weak upper level energy brings another chance for increased cloudiness and a slight chance of a sprinkle Thursday evening.

A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket carrying a Cygnus resupply spacecraft is seen at sunrise on the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport’s Pad-0A, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Photo Credit: NASA Wallops/Patrick Black

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.

Pre-launch News Conference to Air 1 p.m. EDT Today

NASA commercial cargo provider Northrop Grumman is targeting 9:38 p.m. EDT Thursday, Oct. 1, for the launch of its 14th resupply mission to the International Space Station.

A pre-launch news conference will air at 1 p.m. EDT today, Sept. 28, on NASA TV and at nasa.gov/live. Featured participants include:

  • Greg Dorth, manager, International Space Station Program External Integration Office, NASA
  • Heidi Parris, assistant program scientist, International Space Station Program Science Office, NASA
  • Shannon Fitzpatrick, chief, Wallops Flight Facility Range and Mission Management Office, NASA
  • Frank DeMauro, vice president and general manager, Tactical Space, Northrop Grumman
  • Kurt Eberly, director, Launch Vehicles, Northrop Grumman

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.

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.

NG-14 Launch Delayed to NET Oct. 1

Northrop Grumman, along with NASA, has rescheduled the Antares and Cygnus launch for the NG-14 mission to NET Thursday, Oct. 1 at 9:38 p.m. EDT due to unfavorable weather conditions. The Antares rocket and Cygnus spacecraft are healthy and ready to support the mission once weather clears.

A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket carrying a Cygnus resupply spacecraft is seen at sunrise on the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport’s Pad-0A, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Photo Credit: NASA Wallops/Patrick Black

Northrop Grumman’s 14th contracted cargo resupply mission with NASA to the International Space Station will deliver nearly 8,000 pounds of science and research, crew supplies and vehicle hardware to the orbital laboratory and its crew. The CRS-14 Cygnus spacecraft is named after the first female astronaut of Indian descent, Kalpana Chawla.

Launch commentary will begin at 9 p.m. EDT Oct. 1 on NASA TV and at nasa.gov/live.

News Conference, Launch Blog Coverage Conclude

The post-launch news conference for Northrop Grumman’s 11th NASA-contracted commercial resupply  mission has concluded.

From left to right: Briefing moderator Stephanie Schierholz, Office of Communications at NASA Headquarters; Joel Montalbano, deputy manager, International Space Station Program at NASA; Kurt Eberly, Antares vice president at Northrop Grumman; and Frank DeMauro, vice president and general manager, Space Systems, Northrop Grumman. Credit: NASA

NASA’s commercial partner Northrop Grumman launched its Antares rocket carrying its Cygnus cargo spacecraft bound for the International Space Station at 4:46 p.m. EDT Wednesday, April 17. Liftoff was from Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Pad-0A at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on the state’s Eastern Shore.

Credit: NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility/Chris Perry

The Cygnus will arrive at the International Space Station Friday morning carrying about 7,600 pounds of research investigations and equipment, cargo and supplies that will support some of the hundreds of investigations aboard the orbiting laboratory. The Cygnus spacecraft will be attached to the bottom of the station’s Unity module, where it will remain for about three months.

File photo of a Cygnus cargo spacecraft with UltraFlex solar arrays deployed. This Cygnus was photographed as it departed the International Space Station Dec. 5, 2017, during Expedition 53. Credit: NASA

Among the science investigations: testing gels in microgravity as models for growing increasingly complex materials, a new tool to conduct life sciences research with just a few drops of blood, exploring Vascular Aging and the effects of weightlessness on the blood vessels and heart, examining the effects of spaceflight on the function of antibody production, and immune memory, demonstrating the first two of three Astrobee robots, and a technology that tests a method to remove carbon dioxide from air aboard the orbiting outpost.

Post-launch press release from NASA
Mission photography from NASA Headquarters’ Flickr

Post-Launch News Conference for Northrop Grumman CRS-11

Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus cargo spacecraft lifted off aboard an Antares rocket from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia’s Eastern Shore  at 4:46 p.m. EDT April 17. NASA Television has resumed live coverage for a post-launch press conference.

Participants:

Joel Montalbano, deputy manager, International Space Station Program
Frank DeMauro, vice president and general manager, Space Systems, Northrop Grumman
Kurt Eberly, Antares vice president at Northrop Grumman

Cygnus Solar Arrays Deployed

Flight controllers have confirmed that the Cygnus spacecraft’s solar arrays have deployed and are providing power.

File photo of a Cygnus cargo spacecraft with UltraFlex solar arrays deployed. This Cygnus was photographed as it departed the International Space Station Dec. 5, 2017, during Expedition 53. Credit: NASA

Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus cargo spacecraft lifted off on the company’s Antares rocket from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia’s Eastern Shore at 4:46 p.m. EDT April 17, 2019.

It will arrive at the International Space Station Friday morning carrying about 7,600 pounds of research investigations and equipment, cargo and supplies that will support some of the hundreds of investigations aboard the orbiting laboratory. The Cygnus spacecraft will be attached to the bottom of the station’s Unity module, where it will remain for about three months.

A postlaunch press conference will take place at 8:15 p.m. on NASA Television and at nasa.gov/live.

Participants:

Joel Montalbano, deputy manager, International Space Station Program
Frank DeMauro, vice president and general manager, Space Systems, Northrop Grumman
Kurt Eberly, Antares vice president at Northrop Grumman

Among the science investigations: testing gels in microgravity as models for growing increasingly complex materials, a new tool to conduct life sciences research with just a few drops of blood, exploring Vascular Aging and the effects of weightlessness on the blood vessels and heart, examining the effects of spaceflight on the function of antibody production, and immune memory, demonstrating the first two of three Astrobee robots, and a technology that tests a method to remove carbon dioxide from air aboard the orbiting outpost.

Learn more about space station activities by following @space_station and @ISS_Research on Twitter as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

NASA TV Coverage Resumes for Cygnus Solar Array Deployment

NASA Television has resumed live coverage for deployment of the Cygnus solar arrays. Northrop Grumman’s cargo spacecraft lifted off on an Antares rocket from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility at 4:46 p.m. EDT April 17.

It will arrive at the International Space Station Friday morning carrying about 7,600 pounds of research investigations and equipment, cargo and supplies that will support some of the hundreds of investigations aboard the orbiting laboratory. The Cygnus spacecraft will be attached to the bottom of the station’s Unity module, where it will remain for about three months.

Credit: NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility/Chris Perry

A postlaunch press conference will take place at 8:15 p.m. on NASA Television and at nasa.gov/live.

Participants:

Joel Montalbano, deputy manager, International Space Station Program
Frank DeMauro, vice president and general manager, Space Systems, Northrop Grumman
Kurt Eberly, Antares vice president at Northrop Grumman

Among the science investigations: testing gels in microgravity as models for growing increasingly complex materials, a new tool to conduct life sciences research with just a few drops of blood, exploring Vascular Aging and the effects of weightlessness on the blood vessels and heart, examining the effects of spaceflight on the function of antibody production, and immune memory, demonstrating the first two of three Astrobee robots, and a technology that tests a method to remove carbon dioxide from air aboard the orbiting outpost.

Learn more about space station activities by following @space_station and @ISS_Research on Twitter as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

April 17 Antares Launch Video, Photos

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

Loaded with 7,600 pounds of research, crew supplies and hardware, this is Northrop Grumman’s 11th commercial resupply NASA-contracted mission. Antares lifted off from Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on the state’s Eastern Shore.


Video credit: NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility/Terry Zaperach

The Northrop Grumman Antares rocket, with Cygnus resupply spacecraft on board, launches from Pad-0A, Wednesday, April 17, 2019, at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Northrop Grumman’s 11th contracted cargo resupply mission for NASA to the International Space Station will deliver about 7,600 pounds of science and research, crew supplies and vehicle hardware to the orbital laboratory and its crew. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

The Northrop Grumman Antares rocket, with Cygnus resupply spacecraft on board, is seen in this long exposure photograph as it launches from Pad-0A. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Credit: NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility/Allison Stancil

Credit: NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility/Allison Stancil

Credit: NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility/Jamie Adkins

Credit: NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility/Jamie Adkins

Credit: NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility/Jamie Adkins

Credit: NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility/Allison Stancil

Credit: NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility/Chris Perry

Credit: NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility/Chris Perry

Additional images from NASA Headquarters’ Flickr.

Liftoff!

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

The Northrop Grumman Antares rocket, with Cygnus resupply spacecraft onboard, launches from Pad-0A, Wednesday, April 17, 2019, at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Northrop Grumman’s 11th contracted cargo resupply mission for NASA to the International Space Station will deliver about 7,600 pounds of science and research, crew supplies and vehicle hardware to the orbital laboratory and its crew. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)