Sarah Loff – Northrop Grumman

NG-13 Cygnus Named for Maj. Robert H. Lawrence, Jr.

In honor of the first African American to be selected as an astronaut, Northrop Grumman named the Cygnus spacecraft for the NG-13 cargo launch to the International Space Station “S.S. Robert H. Lawrence.”

The US Air Force (USAF) selected Maj. Robert H. Lawrence, Jr., on June 30, 1967, as a member of the third group of aerospace research pilots for the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) Program, making him the first African-American to be selected as an astronaut by any national space program. Maj. Lawrence perished in a training flight in late 1967.

The MOL was a joint project of the USAF and the National Reconnaissance Office to obtain high-resolution photographic imagery of America’s Cold War adversaries. After the 1969 cancellation of the MOL program, NASA invited the younger (under 35) MOL astronauts to join its astronaut corps – seven of them transferred to NASA on August 14, 1969, as the Group 7 astronaut class and all of them went on to fly on the space shuttle in the 1980s.

Third group of MOL astronauts: Robert T. Herres, Robert H. Lawrence, Donald H. Peterson and James A. Abrahamson.

Viewing Map for NG-12 Antares Launch

Parts of the Eastern United States may see Northrop Grumman’s Antares rocket launch from Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, scheduled for 9:59 a.m. EDT on Saturday, Nov. 2. This map indicates when (in seconds) and where to look up in the sky after liftoff:

Viewing map for NG-12 cargo mission launch.

Outside the predicted visibility area? NASA TV coverage of the launch begins at 9:30 a.m.

Antares Rocket for Northrop Grumman CRS-12 Rolls to Launch Pad

NASA’s commercial partner Northrop Grumman is scheduled to launch its Antares rocket carrying its Cygnus cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station at 9:59 a.m. EDT Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. NASA TV coverage of the launch on Nov. 2 begins at 9:30 a.m.

The Northrop Grumman Antares rocket is seen in the early morning on launch Pad-0A, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019, at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

Loaded with about 8,200 pounds of science and research, crew supplies and vehicle hardware, this is Northrop Grumman’s 12th commercial resupply NASA-contracted mission. It will launch from Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility.

The team rolled the Antares rocket out to Pad-0A at Wallops on Oct. 29. Images of rollout and the rocket at the pad.

Next Northrop Grumman Cygnus Launch NET November 2

Northrop Grumman’s 12th commercial resupply NASA-contracted mission to deliver cargo to the International Space Station is now scheduled for no earlier than Nov. 2, 2019. The Antares rocket carrying the Cygnus cargo spacecraft will launch from Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

This NET date is reflective of the expected departure of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) HTV-8 cargo vehicle in October, as well as other station activities.

A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket, with Cygnus resupply spacecraft onboard, is seen on Pad-0A, Nov. 14, 2018 at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Northrop Grumman’s next contracted cargo resupply mission for NASA to the International Space Station, CRS-12, is currently scheduled for no earlier than Nov. 2, 2019. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Next Northrop Grumman Cygnus Launch Set for April 17

Launch of Antares rocket at night — The Northrop Grumman Antares rocket, with Cygnus resupply spacecraft onboard, launches from Pad-0A, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018 at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Northrop Grumman’s 10th contracted cargo resupply mission for NASA to the International Space Station will deliver about 7,400 pounds of science and research, crew supplies and vehicle hardware to the orbital laboratory and its crew. Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky

Media accreditation is open for the launch of Northrop Grumman’s next delivery of NASA science investigations, supplies and equipment to the International Space Station on April 17.

Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft is targeted to launch on the company’s Antares rocket at 4:46 p.m. EDT from Pad-0A of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island in Virginia.

On this mission, Northrop Grumman will use a new late load capability. Previously, all cargo had to be loaded about four days prior to launch. This new capability will allow time-sensitive science experiments to be loaded into Cygnus just 24 hours before liftoff.

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. 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

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.)

Next Cygnus Mission to Station Set for March

Orbital ATK's Cygnus cargo craft — Orbital ATK’s Cygnus cargo craft was captured Oct. 23, 2016, using the Canadarm2 robotic arm on the International Space Station.

Orbital ATK has completed a significant mission milestone for NASA’s next International Space Station cargo mission.

The Pressurized Cargo Module (PCM) of the Cygnus spacecraft has arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center for processing and assembly before launch. The Orbital ATK CRS-7 mission is targeted to launch on Thursday, March 16 from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

Orbital ATK will launch Cygnus atop a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket for delivery of essential crew supplies, equipment and scientific experiments to astronauts aboard the International Space Station. The 30 minute launch window opens at 12:29am EDT.

Orbital ATK CRS-7 will mark Orbital ATK’s seventh cargo delivery mission for NASA under its Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) -1 contract.