Photos: Orbital Sciences' 1st Antares Rocket Test Flight

Space Station Cargo In-Processed for Loading

NASA flight cargo is being in-processed for loading at Building H-100, Wallops Flight Facility, Va. A total of 1235 lbs of cargo (560 kg) was loaded into the Cygnus. Image released March 23, 2013.

Cargo PreFlight Inspection

The cargo from NASA arrived at Wallops Flight Facility building H-100 by truck from Houston, Texas on March 19, 2013 and was accepted by the Cygnus team that evening. The cargo was then unpacked, weighed, measured and inspected to ensure that the cargo successfully survived the trip.

Cargo Bag Insertion into Pressurized Cargo Module

Orbital’s Cygnus Cargo team loaded space station cargo from NASA into the Pressurized Cargo Module at Wallops Flight Facility. Image released March 23, 2013.

Pressurized Cargo Module Loaded With Cargo

Orbital’s Cygnus Cargo team loaded cargo into the COTS Demonstration Pressurized Cargo Module (PCM) in advance of the COTS Demonstration Flight. Image released March 23, 2013.

Engineer Works on Antares Cygnus Mass Simulator

An engineers works on the Cygnus Mass Simulator ahead of the April 17 launch date. Image released April 11, 2013.

Antares Vehicle Configuration

The design of the Antares A-ONE rocket. Liftoff for the rocket is scheduled for April 17, 2013. Image released April 11, 2013.

Orbital Space Act Agreement

Highlights of the agreement between NASA and the Orbital Science Corporation. Image released April 11, 2013.

Commercial Orbital Transportation Services Milestones

A chart detailing the milestones achieved by Orbital Sciences. The company plans to launch at least eight Antares rockets from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, nicknamed MARS, to deliver tons of cargo to the International Space Station under a $1.9 billion deal with NASA set in 2008. Image released April 11, 2013.

Antares Rocket Rolls Out

Orbital Sciences Corp. completed roll-out of the first fully-integrated Antares rocket to the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Pad-0A at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Saturday, April 6.

Antares Rocket Rolls Out to Spaceport Pad

Antares rocket makes its way to the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Pad-0A at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on April 6. Orbital is testing the Antares rocket under NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program.