Posted on 04/21/2013 9:06:48 AM PDT by kingu
A U.S. spaceflight company is hoping the third time's the charm in order to launch a brand-new rocket into space on its maiden flight today (April 21).
After two delayed launched attempts, the privately built Antares rocket is once again poised to blast off from a seaside pad at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia's Eastern Shore. Liftoff is set for 5 p.m. EDT (2100 GMT).
You can watch the Antares rocket launch live on SPACE.com beginning 4:30 p.m. ET (2030 GMT), courtesy of NASA's webcast.
(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...
bump
1 hour ago their report said this :The Range count started at 8:45 a.m. EDT in preparation for today’s launch of Orbital Sciences Corporation’s test flight of its Antares rocket from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Va. Orbital is targeting a launch window between 5 and 7 p.m. There is an 80 percent chance of favorable weather at the time of launch. Surface winds are the primary concern for a weather violation.
NASA Television will begin launch coverage at 4:30 p.m.
‘takes less fuel to reach space/orbit from the equator, thinner atmosphere I think’
“The atmosphere is thicker at the equator (13-16 km) than at the poles (7-8 km).”
http://www.raman-scattering.eu/raman/texts/016_text_6.php
dang. So it is the spin then.
Thanks... will look out the back tonight
So far it is still a green light on weather, but they’re waiting on updates. Maximum ground wind for launch are 23mph/20 knots. Right now it’s blowing more than that..
From Wallops: #Anares T-20 Ground winds look good. High level winds are green. SIGI data nominal. GNC data is nominal.FTS power and arm test underway.( 6minutees ago)
Third time WAS the charm!!!!
Launch successful!
Hoped to see something but I guess I’m too far north plus clouds to my south/southeast. But huzzah for the latest advance by Delmarva’s space program. ;)
Saw the launch on NASA-TV online. Looks like Space-X has a little competition.
Even so, the Cygnus Cargo-Transfer Vehicle is NOT meant to be re-used like Space-X’s Dragon module. Nor is it designed to ever be man-rated like Dragon is.
What a view..........such a clear day. Wonderful to watch..thanks again for the “ping”
So sorry about the cloud cover. I haven’t felt well today so stayed home, but my husband and daughter went out by the water and got a really good view. I stayed home, about 15 miles away, and not only did the house shudder but the windows were rattling before I even saw or heard anything.
Windows continues rattling for quite a while.
Hope you feel better soon! It was fun to watch on TV. And many thanks for the ping.
I was back down again on Saturday, but after it was postponed again, I decided to just watch from home yesterday. I did get a slight consolation with a brief side trip to Ocean City though. I got some Thrasher’s French Fries and some salt water taffy. ;-)
LOL! BTW - the salt water taffy from Chincoteague is better than the stuff from OC :-)
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