Recently in the Orbital Sciences Category

In the two weeks following the successful debut fight of the Antares rocket on April 21, the program's technical team gathered and analyzed large volumes of data collected during the A-ONE mission's countdown, ignition and lift-off, and flight sequence.

Orbital Sciences Corporation announced today that it has been selected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to design, manufacture, integrate and test a new astrophysics satellite that will perform a full-sky search for exoplanets around nearby stars.

Orbital Sciences Corporation Sunday launched its Antares rocket at 05:00 p.m. EDT from the new Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Pad-0A at the agency's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB), one of the world's leading space technology companies, today announced that a premature separation of a launch pad umbilical connection to the Antares upper stage used for data communications halted today's countdown of the Antares test launch at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Va. Engineers are currently analyzing what occurred to determine what measures will be taken to resolve the issue

NASA hosted a press briefing on April 16 to discuss the launch of Orbital Sciences Corporation's Antares rocket on a demonstration flight from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport's Pad-0A at Wallops Flight Facility.

On Saturday, Orbital conducted the wet dress rehearsal for the Antares rocket in preparation its Test Flight scheduled for later this week on April 17.

Depending on where you are along the eastern seaboard of the U.S., you might be able to see the flight of the Antares rocket. The downloadable map below shows the projected degrees above the horizon (how high to look) and the path the rocket will fly so that you might be able to glimpse the Antares test flight.

Early this morning, Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB) rolled out the first fully integrated Antares(TM) rocket from its assembly building at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) in eastern Virginia in preparation for its inaugural flight that is scheduled for April 17 at approximately 5:00 p.m. (EDT).

Antares AJ26 engine test at Stennis Space Center on 4 APril 2013. These tests are conducted before the engine is shipped to Wallops. The engine tested yesterday will be used on an upcoming CRS mission. Credit: NASA. Larger image.

The Antares rocket is being hoisted inside the assembly building at Wallops Island onto its transporter in preparation for its roll out to the launch pad on Saturday morning. Larger image.