FOREWORD: The following article is based upon publicly-disclosed information that is subject to change and/or substantiated by those responsible for Antares’ development. See Disclaimer further below. It is believed this constitutes fair and appropriate use.
Antares is an expendable launch system to launch the Cygnus spacecraft to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s COTS and CRS programs.
Antares is able to launch payloads heavier than 5,000 kg (11,000 lb) into low-Earth orbit. Antares launches from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport and made its inaugural flight in 2013.
NASA awarded a Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) Space Act Agreement (SAA) in 2008 to demonstrate delivery of cargo to the International Space Station. In addition, Antares competed for small-to-medium missions.
The first four Antares launch attempts were successful. During the fifth launch on October 28, 2014, the rocket failed catastrophically, and the vehicle and payload were destroyed.
The failure was traced to a fault in the first stage engines. After completion of a redesign program, the rocket had a successful return to flight on October 17, 2016, delivering cargo to the ISS.
Development
In 2008, it was announced that the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, formerly part of the Wallops Flight Facility, in Virginia, would be the primary launch site for the rocket. Launchpad 0A (LP-0A) would be modified to handle Antares. Wallops allows launches which reach the International Space Station’s orbit as effectively as those from Cape Canaveral, Florida while being less crowded. The first Antares flight launched a Cygnus mass simulator to prove out the capabilities intended per engineering design.
NASA Commercial Resupply Services 2: Enhancements
In 2016, NASA awarded three CRS-2 cargo contracts. Cygnus was one of these contracts.
Notable Missions
Antares A-ONE
Originally scheduled for 2012, the first Antares launch, designated A-ONE was conducted on April 21, 2013, carrying the Cygnus Mass Simulator (a mock-up Cygnus spacecraft) and four CubeSats contracted by Spaceflight Incorporated and NASA.
Prior to the launch, a 27-second test firing of the rocket’s engines was conducted successfully in early 2013, following an attempt on around the same time which was abandoned before ignition.
On April 21, 2013, the rocket lifted off at the beginning of its launch window.
Cygnus CRS Orb-3
On October 28, 2014, the attempted launch of an Antares carrying a Cygnus cargo spacecraft on the Orb-3 resupply mission failed catastrophically six seconds after liftoff from Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia. An explosion occurred in the thrust section just as the vehicle cleared the tower, and it fell back down onto the pad. The Range Safety officer sent the destruct command just before impact. There were no injuries. Orbital Sciences formed an anomaly investigation board to investigate the cause of the incident. They traced it to a failure of the first stage LOX turbopump, but could not find a specific cause. However, the refurbished engines (in storage for years previously) were suspected as having leaks, corrosion, or manufacturing defects that had not been detected. Almost a year later in October 2015, Pad 0A was restored to use.
Antares has consistently had successful flights since the Orb-3 mishap, all of which completed Cygnus spacecraft deliveries to the ISS Space Station.
Antares has many more future flights in the roster to deliver supplies to the Space Station and other missions (e.g. satellites, military, science, etc).
For more information, visit these websites by clicking HERE, and ALSO HERE.
For The Great Galactic Space Gimmick, I’m Gimmick Commander Ben Faltinowski! 🙂
© Ben Faltinowski and The Great Galactic Space Gimmick, 2022. Authorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Ben Faltinowski and The Great Galactic Space Gimmick with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
DISCLAIMER: The info and pics provided in this article came from public postings from various sources publicly available on the web about the Antares launch vehicle. This article is strictly from the author’s research of this public material, and it is not the official voice of any corporate entity cited herein. More official, real-time information from Antares’ developer can be found here at company links LISTED HERE. Please note, no royalties were sought or received for this article. It is believed this constitutes fair and appropriate use.
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November 9, 2022
The Rocket Spaceport – Antares: Orbital Delivery Service!
FOREWORD: The following article is based upon publicly-disclosed information that is subject to change and/or substantiated by those responsible for Antares’ development. See Disclaimer further below. It is believed this constitutes fair and appropriate use.
Antares is an expendable launch system to launch the Cygnus spacecraft to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s COTS and CRS programs.
Antares is able to launch payloads heavier than 5,000 kg (11,000 lb) into low-Earth orbit. Antares launches from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport and made its inaugural flight in 2013.
NASA awarded a Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) Space Act Agreement (SAA) in 2008 to demonstrate delivery of cargo to the International Space Station. In addition, Antares competed for small-to-medium missions.
The first four Antares launch attempts were successful. During the fifth launch on October 28, 2014, the rocket failed catastrophically, and the vehicle and payload were destroyed.
The failure was traced to a fault in the first stage engines. After completion of a redesign program, the rocket had a successful return to flight on October 17, 2016, delivering cargo to the ISS.
Development
In 2008, it was announced that the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, formerly part of the Wallops Flight Facility, in Virginia, would be the primary launch site for the rocket. Launchpad 0A (LP-0A) would be modified to handle Antares. Wallops allows launches which reach the International Space Station’s orbit as effectively as those from Cape Canaveral, Florida while being less crowded. The first Antares flight launched a Cygnus mass simulator to prove out the capabilities intended per engineering design.
NASA Commercial Resupply Services 2: Enhancements
In 2016, NASA awarded three CRS-2 cargo contracts. Cygnus was one of these contracts.
Notable Missions
Antares A-ONE
Originally scheduled for 2012, the first Antares launch, designated A-ONE was conducted on April 21, 2013, carrying the Cygnus Mass Simulator (a mock-up Cygnus spacecraft) and four CubeSats contracted by Spaceflight Incorporated and NASA.
Prior to the launch, a 27-second test firing of the rocket’s engines was conducted successfully in early 2013, following an attempt on around the same time which was abandoned before ignition.
On April 21, 2013, the rocket lifted off at the beginning of its launch window.
Cygnus CRS Orb-3
On October 28, 2014, the attempted launch of an Antares carrying a Cygnus cargo spacecraft on the Orb-3 resupply mission failed catastrophically six seconds after liftoff from Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia. An explosion occurred in the thrust section just as the vehicle cleared the tower, and it fell back down onto the pad. The Range Safety officer sent the destruct command just before impact. There were no injuries. Orbital Sciences formed an anomaly investigation board to investigate the cause of the incident. They traced it to a failure of the first stage LOX turbopump, but could not find a specific cause. However, the refurbished engines (in storage for years previously) were suspected as having leaks, corrosion, or manufacturing defects that had not been detected. Almost a year later in October 2015, Pad 0A was restored to use.
Antares has consistently had successful flights since the Orb-3 mishap, all of which completed Cygnus spacecraft deliveries to the ISS Space Station.
Antares has many more future flights in the roster to deliver supplies to the Space Station and other missions (e.g. satellites, military, science, etc).
For more information, visit these websites by clicking HERE, and ALSO HERE.
© Ben Faltinowski and The Great Galactic Space Gimmick, 2022. Authorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Ben Faltinowski and The Great Galactic Space Gimmick with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
DISCLAIMER: The info and pics provided in this article came from public postings from various sources publicly available on the web about the Antares launch vehicle. This article is strictly from the author’s research of this public material, and it is not the official voice of any corporate entity cited herein. More official, real-time information from Antares’ developer can be found here at company links LISTED HERE. Please note, no royalties were sought or received for this article. It is believed this constitutes fair and appropriate use.
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