Category: CRS-11

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.

 

Antares Rocket for Northrop Grumman CRS-11 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 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.

The team rolled the Antares rocket out from the Horizontal Integration Facility at Wallops the morning of April 15.

Credit: NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility
Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls
Credit: NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility
Credit: NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility
Credit: NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility
Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls
Launch viewing map for the NG-11 launch. Credit: NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility

More images are available from NASA Headquarters’ Flickr.

The launch, as well as briefings preceding and following liftoff, will air live on NASA Television and the agency’s website beginning at 4:15 p.m. EDT April 17.

Local and regional viewing opportunities for the launch are detailed on NASA’s website.

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.