Photos: Orbital Sciences' 1st Antares Rocket Test Flight
Antares Rocket Atop Seaside Launch Pad
The Orbital Sciences Corporation Antares rocket is seen on the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) Pad-0A at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility on April 16, 2013 on Wallops Island, Va.The rocket is slated to launch on April 20.
Sunrise Over Antares Rocket at NASA Wallops
The sun rises over NASA's Wallops Flight Facility, where the first Antares rocket built by Orbital Sciences stands poised to launch on its test flight from Wallops Island on Virginia's Eastern Shore. Liftoff set for 5 pm ET on April 17, 2013.
Antares Rocket on Eve of 1st Launch
The Orbital Sciences Corporation Antares rocket is seen on the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) Pad-0A at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility, Tuesday, April 16, 2013 in Virginia. Liftoff is set for April 17.
Antares Mass Simulator Before Launch
The Antares Cygnus Mass Simulator being prepared ahead of its launch. Image released April 11, 2013.
Antares Rocket Close-up
The Antares rocket takes its new name from the star Antares, which is one of the brightest stars in the night sky and the brightest star in the constellation Scorpius (the Scorpion). Image taken April 6, 2013.
Antares Rocket Ready for April 17 Launch
Following a successful A-ONE launch, Orbital will carry out a full flight demonstration of its new Antares and Cygnus cargo delivery system to the International Space Station (ISS) around mid-year. Image taken April 6, 2013.
Raising Antares A-ONE Rocket
The Transporter/Erector/Launcher raises the A-ONE Rocket to a vertical position on the launch pad and serves as a support interface between the rocket and the launch complex’s systems. Image taken April 6, 2013.
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A-One Mission Conducts 'Hot Fire' Test
The 29-second “hot fire” test was conducted by the Orbital and the Antares team at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) on Feb. 22, 2013. The test was designed to verify that the pad's fueling systems and the Antares stage one test article functioned properly in a fully operational environment, that engine ignition and shut down commands operated as designed, and that the dual AJ26 first stage engines performed to specification in the twin-engine configuration.
Antares Prepared for Roll Out
The Antares rocket for the A-ONE Launch Mission was lifted onto the transporter in advance of its roll out to the pad. This image was taken April 4, 2013 at the Horizontal Integration Facility (HIF) on Wallops Island.
Cargo Delivered to the Cargo Module for Loading
Space station cargo arrived at Wallops Flight Facility on March 19, 2013. The cargo was loaded into the Pressurized Cargo Module on March 22 and completed on March 23.
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