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Northrup Grumman (was Orbital Sciences) Antares / Cygnus
- Thread starter dpeilow
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- orbital atk SpaceX
hockeythug
Active Member
hockeythug
Active Member
Orbital ATK's new rocket had a successful static fire test. The new rocket uses Russian RD-181 engines.
Orbital ATK’s Antares rocket completes static fire at MARS | NASASpaceFlight.com
The old AJ26 engines were the refurbished Russian engines that were 50 years old. The new Russian engines are, while new and improved, likely a lot more costly.
Their launch for the ISS is scheduled for July 6th. SpaceX is currently scheduled for July 16th. So both cargo missions will be docked at the ISS simultaneously again.
Orbital ATK’s Antares rocket completes static fire at MARS | NASASpaceFlight.com
The old AJ26 engines were the refurbished Russian engines that were 50 years old. The new Russian engines are, while new and improved, likely a lot more costly.
Their launch for the ISS is scheduled for July 6th. SpaceX is currently scheduled for July 16th. So both cargo missions will be docked at the ISS simultaneously again.
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Glad to see that Antares is back and hopefully running successfully. It took two years to bring the rocket back. Though it is important to understand they had to redesign the rocket around new engines. The new engines are the RD-181.
Good luck, Orbital. I'll be out of the country and will miss the launch.
Good luck, Orbital. I'll be out of the country and will miss the launch.
OrbitalATK has posted images showing the Antares trajectory from a number of famous landmarks. There's also a Google Earth file you can download to play with and see the trajectory from a point you choose. Cool stuff!
OA-5 Viewing Maps
OA-5 Viewing Maps
The_Mike
Member
My wife and I watched from Swedesboro, NJ. It was 5-10 degrees above the horizon, and we saw the first stage burn at about T+120 seconds. Got to watch through first stage burnout, a surprisingly long coast period, second stage ignition, and about 60 seconds of second stage burn.
Any successful space is good space. We were very excited.
Any successful space is good space. We were very excited.
And the next Orbital ATK Cygnus launch will be back on an Atlas V:
Orbital to launch next Cygnus mission on Atlas 5 - SpaceNews.com
Orbital to launch next Cygnus mission on Atlas 5 - SpaceNews.com
An interesting article on Orbital ATK and their improvements to the Cygnus resupply craft. The article also goes into the detail of how CRS-2 (which is different from a CRS mission) program is different and more advanced than CRS-1 program that was originally worked out.
Orbital ATK highlights advancements to Cygnus for CRS-2 contract flights | NASASpaceFlight.com
CRS-1 was awarded to two companies: SpaceX and Orbital. The first CRS contracts were signed in 2008 and awarded $1.6 billion to SpaceX for 12 cargo transport missions and $1.9 billion to Orbital Sciences for 8 missions,
Commercial Resupply Services - Wikipedia
CRS-2: On January 14, 2016, NASA announced that three companies had been awarded contracts for a minimum of six launches each. SpaceX, Orbital ATK and Sierra Nevada Corporation won contracts. Sierra Nevada will use a specialized Dream Chaser spaceplane.
Dream Chaser - Wikipedia
Orbital ATK highlights advancements to Cygnus for CRS-2 contract flights | NASASpaceFlight.com
CRS-1 was awarded to two companies: SpaceX and Orbital. The first CRS contracts were signed in 2008 and awarded $1.6 billion to SpaceX for 12 cargo transport missions and $1.9 billion to Orbital Sciences for 8 missions,
Commercial Resupply Services - Wikipedia
CRS-2: On January 14, 2016, NASA announced that three companies had been awarded contracts for a minimum of six launches each. SpaceX, Orbital ATK and Sierra Nevada Corporation won contracts. Sierra Nevada will use a specialized Dream Chaser spaceplane.
Dream Chaser - Wikipedia
Antares launch to resupply space station halted by wayward airplane – Spaceflight Now
Here is an article discussing Antares and the NASA contracts.
Orbital ATK looks to Antares to handle cargo resupply missions - SpaceNews.com
Tomorrows launch attempt:
Here is an article discussing Antares and the NASA contracts.
Orbital ATK looks to Antares to handle cargo resupply missions - SpaceNews.com
Tomorrows launch attempt:
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MacGreiner
5YJ
Went yesterday and sat for 4 hours out in 26 Deg. F only to have some goon in a Cessna scrub it. Glad it launched well flawlessly today though. Times like that make you appreciate Cape Canaveral launch view weather!
After watching the Orbital ATK vision just now it's obvious that SpaceX do a much better job on the PR engagement side of launches.
After watching the Orbital ATK vision just now it's obvious that SpaceX do a much better job on the PR engagement side of launches.
Nikxice
Active Member
That Orbital's 'new' Antares uses Russian-built RD-181 engines doesn't suggest this booster is remotely competitive with Falcon 9.
Does anyone know the approximate cost of an Orbital ISS resupply mission versus what SpaceX is charging?
I don't think it's inaccurate to say that the only reason NASA wants a few Orbital resupply missions in the mix is to guarantee they can continue to get supplies to ISS after a SpaceX RUD. I don't know that to be the case, so if anyone knows better, please correct.
Thinking forward a few years to when the BFR/BFS are resupplying ISS or its replacement, if SpaceX continues to have and use the last iteration of Falcon 9 for various other launches, if there was a RUD of the BFR would NASA be okay with then using a Falcon 9 until BFR was again cleared for use? I.e. NASA doesn't want all its eggs in one basket. But is that basket the specific launch vehicle or the company that builds and launches it? I don't think there has previously been any launch provider that has two proven spacecraft with overlap in LEO capacity to lead to such a question.
Does anyone know the approximate cost of an Orbital ISS resupply mission versus what SpaceX is charging?
I don't think it's inaccurate to say that the only reason NASA wants a few Orbital resupply missions in the mix is to guarantee they can continue to get supplies to ISS after a SpaceX RUD. I don't know that to be the case, so if anyone knows better, please correct.
Thinking forward a few years to when the BFR/BFS are resupplying ISS or its replacement, if SpaceX continues to have and use the last iteration of Falcon 9 for various other launches, if there was a RUD of the BFR would NASA be okay with then using a Falcon 9 until BFR was again cleared for use? I.e. NASA doesn't want all its eggs in one basket. But is that basket the specific launch vehicle or the company that builds and launches it? I don't think there has previously been any launch provider that has two proven spacecraft with overlap in LEO capacity to lead to such a question.
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