A Northrop Grumman Antares 230+ is set to launch a Cygnus resupply vehicle to the International Space Station on February 19, 2022, at 12:40 p.m. EST. This Cygnus vehicle is named after former astronaut Piers Sellers.
Launch Overview
Launch Date: Saturday, February 19, 12:40 p.m. EST
Payload: Cygnus ‘S.S. Piers Sellers‘
Rocket: Antares 230+
Launch Pad: Pad 0A, Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, Virginia
Destination: International Space Station
Landing Site: None, expendable vehicle
The Mission
Northrop Grumman is will be launching a Cygnus resupply vehicle to the International Space Station, carrying around 8,200 pounds of cargo. This mission marks the 17th launch of a Cygnus vehicle to the ISS.
What is an Antares?
The Antares 230 vehicle is a two-stage rocket with an optional third stage built by Northrop Grumman, previously Orbital Sciences. There have been a handful of different versions over the years:
- Antares 110
- Status: Retired
- Total Launches: 2
- First Flight: April 21, 2013 – Antares A-ONE
- Antares 120
- Status: Retired
- Total Launches: 2
- First Flight: January 9, 2014 – Orb-1
- Antares 130
- Status: Retired
- Total Launches: 1
- First (and last) Flight: October 28, 2014 – Orb-3
- Antares 230
- Status: Retired
- Total Launches: 5
- First Flight: October 17, 2016 – OA-5
- Antares 230+
- Status: Operational
- Total Launches: 5
- First Flight: November 2, 2019 – NG-12
The first stage is powered by the Russian RD-181 using RP1 and Liquid Oxygen as propellants. The second stage is a Castor 30XL solid rocket motor. Antares has seen only one launch failure.
The Weather
February 19, 2022
- 75% GO
- Primary Concern(s):
- Ground winds
- Cumulus Clouds
- Risk(s):
- N/A
24-hour Delay
- >90% GO
- Primary Concern(s):
- None
- Risk(s):
- N/A
Last Updated: Feb 18, 1 p.m. EST
Where to watch?
NASA TV will begin live coverage of the Cygnus launch at 12:15 p.m. EST, but you can get a head start at 7:30 a.m. on the NASA Wallops IBM video site.
Featured Image: Joe Wakefield for SpaceExplored.com
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