Stratolaunch has been pretty quiet as of late, but an Orbital Sciences conference call reported in Space News sheds some new light on the booster the behemoth twin fuselage aircraft may be lofting. Originally reported as likely to be a solid cored booster comprised of components provided by ATK, based on comments by CEO David […]
RD-180 What exquisite timing. In a week where the Russian built RD-180 main engine, used to power the United Launch Alliance Atlas V, has come under heavy scrutiny, word comes out that Orbital Sciences has dropped its lawsuit against ULA over access to the engine. From a Space News article on the issue: “The parties […]
In case you missed it, here is yesterday’s press release from Orbital Sciences announcing the early morning capture and berthing of the second Cygnus cargo vessel to ISS. ORBITAL’S CYGNUS SPACECRAFT SUCCESSFULLY BERTHS WITH INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION — Rendezvous and Berthing Operations of Company’s First Operational Cargo Logistics Mission Proceeded Smoothly — — Cargo Unloading […]
Orbital Sciences Corporation’s Antares rocket lifted off precisely on time, at 1:07 p.m. EST today, carrying the company’s Cygnus cargo vessel. Following a flawless liftoff, Cygnus was released from the second stage, deploying its solar panels a few moments later. With today’s launch, OSC has now completed three successful flights of the two stage, liquid […]
After a series of delays beginning with a coolant pump failure which prompted a Christmas Eve spacewalk, a blast of Arctic air which chilled much of the nation, and finally high radiation levels in space, Orbital Sciences is ready to conduct its second flight to the International Space Station, and the first of eight scheduled […]
According to a report in aerospace industry magazine Space News, a US district judge has denied a request by United Launch Alliance to dismiss the lawsuit levied against the monopoly launch provider by Orbital Sciences Corporation over access to the Russian built RD-180 first stage engine which powers the Atlas V rocket. Unless the case […]
It began with a historic berthing in LEO, and ended with the successful return to flight of a troubled booster steeped in anachronism. And right in the middle, the future emerged on a pillar of fire piercing a blue Pacific sky. To begin at the ending, the oft troubled Proton booster returned to flight Sunday […]
Orbital Sciences Corporation’s Antares launch vehicle, carrying the Cygnus cargo vessel made an picture perfect liftoff this morning to mark the beginning of its COTS D1 Demonstration mission to the International Space Station. With good weather and no issues, the two stage Antares blasted off at 10:58 A.M. EDT from Pad-0A at the Mid-Atlantic Regional […]
Orbital Sciences Corporation Press Release: ORBITAL SET TO LAUNCH COTS DEMONSTRATION MISSION TO INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION TOMORROW — Upcoming Mission Represents Final Milestone in the Development of Antares Launch Vehicle and Cygnus Cargo Logistics Spacecraft — (Dulles, VA 17 September 2013) – Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB), one of the world’s leading space technology companies, […]
What was already likely to not be a very happy week at United Launch Alliance just got a whole lot worse. Only a day after SpaceX entered into an agreement with the Air Force to begin the process of qualifying its boosters for EELV business, Reuters is reporting that the Federal Trade Commission is opening an […]
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