Tag: Orbital Sciences

Is Pegasus Nearing its Last Ride?

Is Pegasus Nearing its Last Ride?

Following a one day delay due to a power outage in the area around Vandenberg AFB.  Orbital Sciences is preparing to launch  NASA’s IRIS satellite aboard the air launched Pegasus XL booster.  IRIS, which stands for Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph, is designed to study the behavior of a little understood region of the sun’s atmosphere, the “interface”  region […]

ULA Investigated for Anti Trust Violations

ULA Investigated for Anti Trust Violations

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 […]

Stratolaunch and OSC

Stratolaunch and OSC

Stratolaunch announced yesterday that following a 9 month courtship, it is entering into a development arrangement with Orbital Sciences Corporation to secure the booster for the behemoth, twin boomed aircraft currently being built by Scaled Composites at Mojave. NBC News Science Editor Alan Boyle shed a little more light on the arrangement yesterday on his […]

Atlas V Boosts GPS IIF Satellite to Orbit

Atlas V Boosts GPS IIF Satellite to Orbit

At 5:38 PM Wednesday evening, a United Launch Alliance  Atlas V rocket launched the latest Global Positioning Satellite into orbit, augmenting the space based system which has become almost inextricably entwined in daily life.   Following check out in orbit,  the GPS IIF-4 will become the 31st operational spacecraft currently in the system.   With most GPS satellites significantly exceeding their […]

Posted in: EELV
Orbital’s Really Good Week

Orbital’s Really Good Week

It has been quite a week for Orbital Sciences Corporation. Following the successful maiden launch of its Antares rocket on Sunday, OSC reported first quarter earnings on Monday, and they too were strong, showing a 31% growth in operating income.  Today, the company annouced that it has been selected by NASA to build the Transiting Exo Planet Survey […]

Antares Conducts Flawless Maiden Launch

Antares Conducts Flawless Maiden Launch

Press release from Orbital Sciences following today’s successful launch of the Antares booster ORBITAL SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES FIRST ANTARES ROCKET — Company Introduces America’s Newest Medium-Class Space Launch Vehicle — — Orbital Now Poised to Conduct Cargo Resupply Demonstrations Mission to International Space Station in Mid 2013 — (Dulles, VA 21 April 2013) – Orbital Sciences […]

Antares Now Scheduled for Today (Sunday)

Antares Now Scheduled for Today (Sunday)

Newest launch info from NASA. Gov After excessive high level winds prompted the delay of yesterday’s launch attempt for the Antares booster, Orbital Sciences is preparing to try again today; same time, same channel. Launch now is scheduled for 5 p.m. EDT, and NASA Television coverage will begin at 4:30 p.m. Good luck to NASA, Orbital […]

Update : Antares First Attempt Scrubbed, Next Opportunity on Friday

Update : Antares First Attempt Scrubbed, Next Opportunity on Friday

  Update: This story has been updated to reflect a possible new launch attempt on Friday. The maiden launch of the Orbital Sciences Antares rocket was scrubbed Wednesday  at 4:48 PM Eastern time.  The abort was caused by the pre-mature separation of a second stage umbilical line.  Orbital has confirmed that the earliest likely opportunity will be on Friday, […]

Antares Rolled Out to Launch Pad

Antares Rolled Out to Launch Pad

Orbital Sciences Press Release: (Dulles, VA 6 April 2013) Early this morning, Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB) rolled out the first fully integrated Antares rocket from its assembly building at NASAs Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) in eastern Virginia in preparation for its inaugural flight that is scheduled for April 17 at approximately 5:00 p.m. (EDT). […]

Antares Hotfire a Success

Antares Hotfire a Success

Orbital Sciences conducted a successful  hotfire test of its Antares first stage earlier this evening at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport.  The test took place using a structural test article, and was intended to fully verify ground, fueling and countdown and ignition procedures for the brand new launch pad.  According to OSC, an initial review indicates the 29 second test went […]

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