Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta The Orbital Sciences Corporation Antares rocket. Mostrar todas las entradas
Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta The Orbital Sciences Corporation Antares rocket. Mostrar todas las entradas

domingo, 2 de noviembre de 2014

NASA : NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility Completes Initial Assessment after Orbital Launch Mishap

Hola amigos: VUELO DE UN QUINDE EL BLOG., La Agencia Espacial NASA, no pudo lanzar su proyecto Antares y esto nos dice: ..." La siguiente declaración es de William Gerstenmaier, administrador asociado de la Dirección de Exploración Humana y Operaciones de la NASA, en relación con el accidente que se produjo a las Pad 0A de la Regional de Puerto Espacial del Atlántico Medio en Wallops Flight Facility de la NASA en Virginia durante el intento de lanzamiento de Antares cohete Orbital Sciences Corp y nave espacial de carga Cygnus a 18:22 Martes, 28 de octubre.......
"Mientras que la NASA está decepcionado de que la tercera misión de reabastecimiento contratada Orbital Sciences 'a la Estación Espacial Internacional no tuvo éxito hoy en día, vamos a seguir para avanzar hacia el siguiente intento una vez que entendemos plenamente percance de hoy. La tripulación de la Estación Espacial Internacional no está en peligro de quedarse sin alimentos u otros suministros esenciales.
"Orbital(El cohete Orbital Sciences Corporation, Antares) ha demostrado capacidades extraordinarias en sus dos primeras misiones a la estación a principios de este año, y sabemos que pueden replicar ese éxito. El lanzamiento de cohetes es una empresa increíblemente difícil, y aprender de cada éxito y cada fracaso. Hoy intento de lanzamiento no nos disuadirá de nuestro trabajo para expandir nuestra capacidad ya exitosa para lanzar la carga de las costas estadounidenses a la Estación Espacial Internacional ".
 
Statement from NASA Administrator on Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo Mishap
The following is a statement from NASA Administrator Charles Bolden:
“On behalf of the entire NASA family, I offer our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the pilot lost in today’s accident involving Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo, and we are praying for a speedy recovery of the other pilot.
“While not a NASA mission, the pain of this tragedy will be felt by all the men and women who have devoted their lives to exploration. Space flight is incredibly difficult, and we commend the passion of all in the space community who take on risk to push the boundaries of human achievement.”
 
La siguiente es una declaración del administrador de la NASA Charles Bolden:
"En nombre de toda la familia de la NASA, ofrezco nuestras más profundas condolencias a la familia y seres queridos del piloto perdido en el accidente de hoy la participación de la SpaceShipTwo de Virgin Galactic, y estamos orando por una pronta recuperación del otro piloto.

"Aunque no es una misión de la NASA, el dolor de esta tragedia será sentido por todos los hombres y mujeres que han dedicado su vida a la exploración. El vuelo espacial es increíblemente difícil, y elogiamos la pasión de todos en la comunidad espacial que asumen el riesgo de empujar los límites de los logros humanos ".
Climate-related extreme events such as hurricanes, sea level rise, and wildfires are expected to increase in the future and pose hazards to NASA infrastructure.
Climate-related extreme events such as hurricanes, sea level rise, and wildfires are expected to increase in the future and pose hazards to NASA infrastructure.
Image Credit: 
NASA
A new study in the latest issue of the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society provides an in-depth look at how NASA facilities have been affected by climate extremes and climate change in recent years and how the agency is preparing for the future.
Using a blend of weather data, global and regional climate model outputs, and advances in the understanding of the climate system, the study finds that many types of extreme events are expected to increase in frequency and magnitude in the future and pose hazards to NASA’s mission, infrastructure and workforce.
The study found that by the 2050s, sea level rise alone could lead to an increase of 50 percent or more in coastal flooding frequency with varying impacts to NASA facilities, a high percentage of which are located near coastlines. In total, the agency has approximately $32 billion in constructed assets and about 64,000 employees, contractors and partners.
“Risk management is central to continuity of NASA operations, and the agency is including potential climate extremes in its risk management framework,” said Calvin Williams, assistant administrator for NASA's Office of Strategic Infrastructure at the agency’s Headquarters in Washington.
A partnership between Earth scientists and institutional stewards is helping NASA prepare for a changing climate and increasing vulnerabilities to such change. The agency established the Climate Adaptation Science Investigator (CASI) working group as an important part of this effort. The CASI initiative brings Earth scientists together with facility managers, emergency management staff, natural resource managers and human capital specialists at each NASA center to discuss management of climate risks and resilience.
Workshops were held at five NASA centers that brought together climate scientists, mission operations personnel, human resource managers, and ecosystem specialists. Using the climate projections prepared by CASI scientists in conjunction with each center, risks were explored and adaptation strategies developed.
“NASA has cutting-edge climate science and world-class stewardship at its facilities,” said Cynthia Rosenzweig, a scientist at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York, who led the study and the ongoing CASI initiative. “Now climate scientists and institutional stewards are working together to enhance resilience to climate extremes and change.”
The initiative strengthens the science community’s commitment to understanding climate impacts, targets research to the needs of the agency’s institutional stewards, and equips those stewards through workshops and ongoing knowledge sharing as a basis for proactive risk management.
“NASA science provides an important knowledge base that the centers and their surrounding communities can use in preparing for changing climate conditions,” said Jack Kaye, associate director of NASA’s Earth Science Division in Washington. “This integrated, science-based approach to climate risk management can provide a model for other agencies.”
Adaptation strategies underway and under consideration include: beach re-nourishment to minimize sea level rise and storm surge impacts; building designs that reduce reliance on the remote power sources that may become less reliable during extreme events; and, landscaping changes that reduce water use in dry regions and capture rain water to reduce flooding in wet regions.
NASA satellite products and climate models are being used to inform decision-making about energy and water use and other onsite assets. Representatives from nearby agencies, such as local water departments, are participating in the workshops to develop regional approaches.
The agency’s scientist-steward partnership reflects its commitment to deliver value locally, nationally and globally through the sharing of common resources such as water and infrastructure, as well as the exchange of risk information and coordinated planning in the communities where NASA facilities are located.
For details on specific impacts at many NASA facilities, go to:
NASA Statement Regarding Oct. 28 Orbital Sciences Corp. Launch Mishap
The following statement is from William Gerstenmaier, Associate Administrator of NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations Directorate, regarding the mishap that occurred at Pad 0A of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia during the attempted launch of Orbital Sciences Corp’s Antares rocket and Cygnus cargo spacecraft at 6:22 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28.
“While NASA is disappointed that Orbital Sciences' third contracted resupply mission to the International Space Station was not successful today, we will continue to move forward toward the next attempt once we fully understand today's mishap. The crew of the International Space Station is in no danger of running out of food or other critical supplies.
“Orbital has demonstrated extraordinary capabilities in its first two missions to the station earlier this year, and we know they can replicate that success. Launching rockets is an incredibly difficult undertaking, and we learn from each success and each setback. Today's launch attempt will not deter us from our work to expand our already successful capability to launch cargo from American shores to the International Space Station.”
Updates will be posted as available on NASA’s Orbital page, at:
 
Wallops launch pad looking south after launch failure
An aerial view of the Wallops Island launch facilities taken by the Wallops Incident Response Team Oct. 29 following the failed launch attempt of Orbital Science Corp.'s Antares rocket Oct. 28.
Image Credit: 
NASA/Terry Zaperach
 
The Wallops Incident Response Team completed today an initial assessment of Wallops Island, Virginia, following the catastrophic failure of Orbital Science Corp.’s Antares rocket shortly after liftoff at 6:22 p.m. EDT Tuesday, Oct. 28, from Pad 0A of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.
“I want to praise the launch team, range safety, all of our emergency responders and those who provided mutual aid and support on a highly-professional response that ensured the safety of our most important resource -- our people,” said Bill Wrobel, Wallops director. “In the coming days and weeks ahead, we'll continue to assess the damage on the island and begin the process of moving forward to restore our space launch capabilities. There's no doubt in my mind that we will rebound stronger than ever.”
The initial assessment is a cursory look; it will take many more weeks to further understand and analyze the full extent of the effects of the event. A number of support buildings in the immediate area have broken windows and imploded doors. A sounding rocket launcher adjacent to the pad, and buildings nearest the pad, suffered the most severe damage.
At Pad 0A the initial assessment showed damage to the transporter erector launcher and lightning suppression rods, as well as debris around the pad.
The Wallops team also met with a group of state and local officials, including the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, the Virginia Marine Police, and the U.S. Coast Guard.
The Wallops environmental team also is conducting assessments at the site. Preliminary observations are that the environmental effects of the launch failure were largely contained within the southern third of Wallops Island, in the area immediately adjacent to the pad. Immediately after the incident, the Wallops’ industrial hygienist collected air samples at the Wallops mainland area, the Highway 175 causeway, and on Chincoteague Island. No hazardous substances were detected at the sampled locations.
Additional air, soil and water samples will be collected from the incident area as well as at control sites for comparative analysis.
The Coast Guard and Virginia Marine Resources Commission reported today they have not observed any obvious signs of water pollution, such as oil sheens. Furthermore, initial assessments have not revealed any obvious impacts to fish or wildlife resources. The Incident Response Team continues to monitor and assess.
Following the initial assessment, the response team will open the area of Wallops Island, north of the island flagpole opposite of the launch pad location, to allow the U.S. Navy to return back to work.
Anyone who finds debris or damage to their property in the vicinity of the launch mishap is cautioned to stay away from it and call the Incident Response Team at 757-824-1295.
Further updates on the situation and the progress of the ongoing investigation will be available at:
and
Orbital Antares Rocket at the Launch Pad
The Orbital Sciences Corporation Antares rocket, with the Cygnus spacecraft onboard, is seen on launch Pad-0A, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2014, at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The Antares will launch with the Cygnus spacecraft filled with over 5,000 pounds of supplies for the International Space Station, including science experiments, experiment hardware, spare parts, and crew provisions. The Orbital-3 mission is Orbital Sciences' third contracted cargo delivery flight to the space station for NASA. Launch is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 27 at 6:45 p.m. EDT.
Image Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky
NASA
Guillermo Gonzalo Sánchez Achutegui
ayabaca@gmail.com
ayabaca@Hotmail.com
ayabaca@yahoo.com
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domingo, 13 de julio de 2014

NASA : NASA Cargo Launches to Space Station aboard Orbital Sciences Resupply Mission


The Orbital Sciences Corporation Antares rocket launches from Pad-0A with the Cygnus spacecraft onboard, Sunday, July 13, 2014, at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The Cygnus spacecraft is filled with over 3,000 pounds of supplies for the International Space Station, including science experiments, experiment hardware, spare parts, and crew provisions. The Orbital-2 mission is Orbital Sciences' second contracted cargo delivery flight to the space station for NASA.
The Orbital Sciences Corporation Antares rocket launches from Pad-0A with the Cygnus spacecraft onboard, Sunday, July 13, 2014, at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The Cygnus spacecraft is filled with over 3,000 pounds of supplies for the International Space Station, including science experiments, experiment hardware, spare parts, and crew provisions. The Orbital-2 mission is Orbital Sciences' second contracted cargo delivery flight to the space station for NASA.
Image Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

A multitude of NASA research investigations, crew provisions, hardware and science experiments from across the country is headed to the International Space Station aboard Orbital Sciences Corp.'s Cygnus spacecraft. The cargo craft launched aboard Orbital's Antares rocket from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia at 12:52 p.m. EDT Sunday.

The mission is the company's second cargo delivery flight to the station through a $1.9 billion NASA Commercial Resupply Services contract. Orbital will fly at least eight cargo missions to the space station through 2016.
The Orbital-2 mission is carrying almost 3,300 pounds of supplies to the station, which will expand the research capability of the Expedition 40 crew members. Among the research investigations headed to the orbital laboratory are a flock of nanosatellites designed to take images of Earth, developed by Planet Labs of San Francisco; and a satellite-based investigation called TechEdSat-4 built by NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California, which aims to develop technology that will eventually enable small samples to be returned to Earth from the space station.
An experiment managed by Ames called Smart Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) features a sensor and multiple cameras to enable 3-D mapping and robotic navigation inside the space station. In addition, a host of student experiments are on board as part of the Student Spaceflight Experiment Program, an initiative of the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education and NanoRacks.
Expedition 40 Commander Steve Swanson of NASA, with help from Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency, will use the station's robotic arm to take hold of Cygnus at 6:39 a.m. Wednesday, July 16. In August, the capsule, which will be filled with trash, will depart the station and burn up during reentry in Earth’s atmosphere.
The International Space Station is a convergence of science, technology and human innovation that demonstrates new technologies and makes research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. The space station has been continuously occupied since November 2000. In that time, it has been visited by more than 200 people and a variety of international and commercial spacecraft. The space station remains the springboard to NASA's next great leap in exploration, including future missions to an asteroid and Mars.
For more information about the Orbital-2 mission and the International Space Station, visit:
NASA
Guillermo Gonzalo Sánchez Achutegui

viernes, 11 de julio de 2014

NASA : Antares Rocket Rollout


Back to Gallery
Back to Gallery
Antares Rocket Rollout
The Orbital Sciences Corporation Antares rocket, with the Cygnus spacecraft onboard, is rolled out of the Horizontal Integration Facility (HIF) to begin the approximately half-mile journey to launch Pad-0A, Thursday, July 10, 2014, at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The Antares will launch with the Cygnus spacecraft filled with over 3,000 pounds of supplies for the International Space Station, including science experiments, experiment hardware, spare parts, and crew provisions. The Orbital-2 mission is Orbital Sciences' second contracted cargo delivery flight to the space station for NASA.
Image Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls
NASA
Guillermo Gonzalo Sánchez Achutegui
ayabaca@gmail.com
ayabaca@Hotmail.com
ayabaca@yahoo.com
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miércoles, 8 de enero de 2014

NASA :Antares Rocket Ready for Launch .- En este cohete irá el satélite peruano UAP SAT-1


Antares Rocket Ready for Launch
An Orbital Sciences Corporation Antares rocket is seen on launch Pad-0A at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility, Monday, Jan.6, 2014 in advance of a planned Wednesday, Jan. 8th, 1:32 p.m. EST launch. The Antares will launch a Cygnus spacecraft on a cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station. The Orbital-1 mission is Orbital Sciences' first contracted cargo delivery flight to the space station for NASA. Among the cargo aboard Cygnus set to launch to the space station are science experiments, crew provisions, spare parts and other hardware.
Image Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls
 

NASA confirma para mañana lanzamiento al espacio de satélite peruano                                         Por Rodolfo Espinal, enviado especialVirginia ene. 07 (ANDINA). La NASA confirmó para el miércoles 8 de enero la puesta en órbita del satélite experimental peruano UAP SAT-1, desde sus plataformas en el centro de lanzamiento espacial Wallops, en el estado de Virginia.
La puesta en órbita del UAP SAT-1 se efectuará a través del cohete Antares. Foto: Internet/Medios.
La puesta en órbita del UAP SAT-1 se efectuará a través del cohete Antares. Foto: Internet/Medios.

Mediante una comunicación a las autoridades de la Universidad Alas Peruanas (UAP), impulsora del proyecto científico, voceros de la NASA indicaron que el lanzamiento se realizará a las 13:32 horas (tiempo de Perú).
Los ingenieros de la UAP ultiman los detalles de este lanzamiento, el primero que realiza la NASA de un satélite de procedencia peruana y el cual ha sido diseñado exclusivamente por profesionales y estudiantes de dicho centro de estudios.
El satélite ha cumplido todos los estándares y requisitos exigidos por la NASA para su lanzamiento al espacio, según informaron voceros de la UAP.
La puesta en órbita del UAP SAT-1 se efectuará a través del cohete Antares, hecho calificado de un hito por las autoridades de ese centro de estudios, por cuanto situará a Perú como líder y abanderado en América Latina en esta actividad científica.
El cohete Antares llevará al satélite a la Estación Espacial Internacional (ISS) en la cápsula espacial Cygnus, tras lo cual será depositado en un brazo robótico que lo pondrá en órbita especial.
De este modo, se culminará un ambicioso proyecto de investigación que data del 2010 y que demandó una inversión de medio millón de dólares.

Misión

Se informó que la misión del UAP SAT-1 –aparato que tiene forma de una caja– será recolectar información sobre el clima en el espacio y lo monitorearán desde un centro de control en la Tierra; aunque no se descarta que le asignen otros trabajos de investigación científica.
El satélite, forrado por delgadas capas de vidrio oscuro y con menos de un kilogramo de peso, tuvo en su tramo final de armado y despegue la labor de seis ingenieros peruanos de la UAP.
El pasado 18 de diciembre se postergó la puesta en órbita del UAP SAT-1 en el centro de lanzamiento espacial Wallops debido a problemas climáticos.

Satélite peruano a lanzarse este miércoles reunirá información sobre clima en el espacio Por Rodolfo Espinal, enviado especial
Virginia (EEUU), ene. 07 (ANDINA). La misión del satélite peruano UAP SAT-1 que este miércoles será puesto en órbita con apoyo de la Administración Nacional de la Aeronáutica y del Espacio de los Estados Unidos (NASA) será recolectar información sobre el clima en el espacio y marcará un hito en el desarrollo aeroespacial y satelital peruano.
Renzo Arévalo, desarrollador del sistema de comunicaciones de UAP, indicó a la Agencia Andina que este equipo permitirá conocer el comportamiento del sistema comunicacional en el espacio. Agregó que no se descarta que le asignen otros trabajos de investigación científica.
Explicó que el satélite es un aparato que tiene forma de una caja y será monitoreado desde un centro de control en la Tierra.
El satélite, forrado por delgadas capas de vidrio oscuro y con menos de un kilogramo de peso, tuvo en su tramo final de armado y despegue la labor de seis ingenieros peruanos de la UAP, indicó.
Arévalo destacó que el UAP SAT-1 cumplió una serie de exigentes requisitos establecidos por la NASA, como condiciones de temperatura, vibración, liberación de gases y estándares de vacío, entre otros.
La NASA confirmó para el miércoles 8 de enero la puesta en órbita del satélite experimental peruano UAP SAT-1, desde sus plataformas en el centro de lanzamiento espacial Wallops, en el estado de Virginia.
Mediante una comunicación a las autoridades de la Universidad Alas Peruanas (UAP), impulsora del proyecto científico, voceros de la NASA indicaron que el lanzamiento se realizará a las 13:32 horas (tiempo de Perú).
Los ingenieros de la UAP ultiman los detalles de este lanzamiento, el primero que realiza la NASA de un satélite de procedencia peruana y el cual ha sido diseñado exclusivamente por profesionales y estudiantes de dicho centro de estudios.
Guillermo Gonzalo Sánchez Achutegui
ayabacagmail.com

domingo, 21 de abril de 2013

NASA - Antares Rocket Launches

Hola amigos: A VUELO DE UN QUINDE EL BLOG., nos ha llegado la información de la Agencia Espacial NASA  que se ha lanzado al espacio: The Orbital Sciences Corporation Antares rocket, desde el the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, Sunday, April 21, 2013. Esta misión es completamente privada para lograr en coordinación con NASA, el uso comercial en el trafico al espacio; esta misión ANTARES ha sido   desarrollado por:

Orbital Sciences Corporation

Esta es la página web de Antares:
http://www.orbital.com/SpaceLaunch/Antares/
Orbital to Announce First Quarter 2013 Financial Results on April 23: Orbital Rolls Out Antares Rocket to Launch Pad at Wallops Island for Upcoming Test Flight
www.orbital.com - En caché
 
 
 
 Los invito a leer la versión original en inglés.....



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Antares

Antares is a two-stage launch vehicle designed to provide responsive, low-cost, and reliable access to space for medium-class payloads weighing up to 6120 kg. Initially developed to demonstrate commercial re-supply of the International Space Station under a NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) contract, the Antares launch system utilizes many management approaches, engineering standards, production and test processes common to Orbital's family of highly successful small-class Pegasus®, Taurus®, and Minotaur launch vehicles. These proven launch technologies, along with hardware from some of the world's leading aerospace suppliers, combine to provide cost-effective access to a variety of orbits for civil, commercial and military Delta II-class payloads. The first launch of Antares took place on April 21, 2013.

System Features Include:

  • Incorporates both solid and liquid stages and flight-proven technologies to meet medium-class mission requirements
  • Provides substantial payload performance into a variety of low inclination low-Earth and sun synchronous orbits and interplanetary trajectories
  • 3.9 meter fairing accommodates large payloads
  • Streamlined vehicle/payload integration and testing via simplified interfaces reduce time from encapsulation to lift-off
  • Capable of launching single and multiple payloads
  • Initial launch capability in 2012 from the Wallops Flight Facility (WFF)
  • Compatible with the Western Range at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), Wallops Flight Facility, Eastern Range at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) and Kodiak Launch Complex (KLC)






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Antares Lifts Off

Lift off the Antares rocket from the Wallops FLight facitlity at 5:00pm EDT. The Orbital Sciences Corporation Antares rocket is seen as it launches from Pad-0A of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, Sunday, April 21, 2013. The test launch marked the first flight of Antares and the first rocket launch from Pad-0A. The Antares rocket delivered the equivalent mass of a spacecraft, a so-called mass simulated payload, into Earth's orbit. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)


  • NASA PARTNER ORBITAL SCIENCES TEST LAUNCHES ANTARES ROCKET

    Sun, 21 Apr 2013 04:26:33 PM PST

    RELEASE: 13-114

    WALLOPS ISLAND, Va. -- NASA commercial space partner Orbital Sciences
    Corporation Sunday launched its Antares rocket at 5:00 p.m. EDT from the
    new Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Pad-0A at the agency's Wallops
    Flight Facility in Virginia.

    The test flight was the first launch from the pad at Wallops and was the
    first flight of Antares, which delivered the equivalent mass of a
    spacecraft, a so-called mass simulated payload, into Earth's orbit.

    "Today's successful test marks another significant milestone in NASA's
    plan to rely on American companies to launch supplies and astronauts to
    the International Space Station, bringing this important work back to
    the United States where it belongs," said NASA Administrator Charles
    Bolden. "Congratulations to Orbital Sciences and the NASA team that
    worked alongside them for the picture-perfect launch of the Antares
    rocket. In addition to providing further evidence that our strategic
    space exploration plan is moving forward, this test also inaugurates
    America's newest spaceport capable of launching to the space station,
    opening up additional opportunities for commercial and government users.

    "President Obama has presented a budget for next year that ensures the
    United States will remain the world leader in space exploration, and a
    critical part of this budget is the funding needed to advance NASA's
    commercial space initiative. In order to stop outsourcing American space
    launches, we need to have the President's budget enacted. It's a budget
    that's good for our economy, good for the U.S. Space program -- and good
    for American taxpayers."

    The test of the Antares launch system began with the rocket's rollout
    and placement on the launch pad April 6, and culminated with the
    separation of the mass simulator payload from the rocket.

    The completed flight paves the way for a demonstration mission by
    Orbital to resupply the space station later this year. Antares will
    launch experiments and supplies to the orbiting laboratory carried
    aboard the company's new Cygnus cargo spacecraft through NASA's
    Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract.

    "Today's successful test flight of Orbital Sciences' Antares rocket from
    the spaceport at Wallops Island, Virginia, demonstrates an additional
    private space-launch capability for the United States and lays the
    groundwork for the first Antares cargo mission to the International
    Space Station later this year," said John Holdren, director of the
    Office of Science and Technology Policy. "The growing potential of
    America's commercial space industry and NASA's use of public-private
    partnerships are central to President Obama's strategy to ensure U.S.
    leadership in space exploration while pushing the bounds of scientific
    discovery and innovation in the 21st century. With NASA focusing on the
    challenging and exciting task of sending humans deeper into space than
    ever before, private companies will be crucial in taking the baton for
    American cargo and crew launches into low-Earth orbit.

    "I congratulate Orbital Sciences and the NASA teams at Wallops, and look
    forward to more groundbreaking missions in the months and years ahead."

    Orbital is building and testing its Antares rocket and Cygnus spacecraft
    under NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program.
    After successful completion of a COTS demonstration mission to the
    station, Orbital will begin conducting eight planned cargo resupply
    flights to the orbiting laboratory through NASA's $1.9 billion CRS
    contract with the company.

    NASA initiatives, such as COTS, are helping to develop a robust U.S.
    commercial space transportation industry with the goal of achieving
    safe, reliable and cost-effective transportation to and from the
    International Space Station and low-Earth orbit. NASA's Commercial Crew
    Program also is working with commercial space partners to develop
    capabilities to launch U.S. astronauts from American soil in the next
    few years.

    For more information about the upcoming Orbital test flights, and links
    to NASA's COTS and Commercial Crew programs, visit:

    http://www.nasa.gov/orbital

    For information on Orbital's Antares launch vehicle, visit:

    http://www.orbital.com/Antares

    Related Links

    White House Statement:
    http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/04/21/statement-launch-antares

    NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver's Blog:
    http://blogs.nasa.gov/cm/blog/garver/posts/post_1366578827862.html
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