Jump to content

Antares (rocket)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Taurus II" redirects here. For other topics, see Taurus Two (disambiguation) and Taurus (disambiguation).
This article is about the space launch vehicle. For the LM-8 rocketship, see Apollo 14.

Antares
Launch of an Antares 230
FunctionMedium-lift launch vehicle
Manufacturer
Country of originUnited States
Project costUS$472 million until 2012[1]
Cost per launchUS$80−85 million[2]
Size
Height
  • 110/120: 40.5 m (133 ft)[3][4]
  • 130: 41.9 m (137 ft)
  • 230/230+: 42.5 m (139 ft)[5]
Diameter3.9 m (13 ft)[6][5]
Mass
  • 110/120/130: 282,000–296,000 kg (622,000–653,000 lb)[4]
  • 230/230+: 298,000 kg (657,000 lb)[5]
Stages2 to 3[6]
Capacity
Payload to LEO
Mass8,000 kg (18,000 lb)[7]
Associated rockets
ComparableDelta II, Atlas III
Launch history
Status
  • 110: retired
  • 120: retired
  • 130: retired
  • 230: retired
  • 230+: retired
  • 300: planned
Launch sitesMARS, LP-0A
Total launches18 (110: 2, 120: 2, 130: 1, 230: 5, 230+: 8)
Success(es)17 (110: 2, 120: 2, 130: 0, 230: 5, 230+: 8)
Failure(s)1 (130: 1)
First flight
  • 110: April 21, 2013
  • 120: January 9, 2014
  • 130: October 28, 2014
  • 230: October 17, 2016
  • 230+: November 2, 2019
  • 300: June 2025 (planned)
Last flight
  • 110: September 18, 2013
  • 120: July 13, 2014
  • 130: October 28, 2014
  • 230: April 17, 2019
  • 230+: August 2, 2023
Type of passengers/cargoCygnus
First stage (Antares 100)
Empty mass18,700 kg (41,200 lb)[4]
Gross mass260,700 kg (574,700 lb)[4]
Powered by2 × NK-33 (AJ26-62)[8]
Maximum thrust3,265 kN (734,000 lbf)[8]
Specific impulseSL: 297 s (2.91 km/s)
vac: 331 s (3.25 km/s)[4]
Burn time235 seconds[4]
PropellantRP-1 / LOX[8]
First stage (Antares 200)
Empty mass20,600 kg (45,400 lb)[5]
Gross mass262,600 kg (578,900 lb)[5]
Powered by2 × RD-181[5]
Maximum thrust3,844 kN (864,000 lbf)[5]
Specific impulseSL: 311.9 s (3.06 km/s)
vac: 339.2 s (3.33 km/s)[5]
Burn time215 seconds[5]
PropellantRP-1 / LOX
First stage (Antares 300)
Powered by7 × Miranda[9]
PropellantRP-1 / LOX
Second stage – Castor 30A/B/XL
Gross mass
  • A: 14,035 kg (30,942 lb)
  • B: 13,970 kg (30,800 lb)
  • XL: 26,300 kg (58,000 lb)
Propellant mass
  • A: 12,815 kg (28,252 lb)
  • B: 12,887 kg (28,411 lb)
  • XL: 24,200 kg (53,400 lb)
Maximum thrust
  • A: 259 kN (58,200 lbf)
  • B: 293.4 kN (65,960 lbf)
  • XL: 474 kN (107,000 lbf)[10]
Burn time
  • A: 136 seconds
  • B: 127 seconds
  • XL: 156 seconds[4][5]
PropellantTP-H8299 / Al / AP[11]
[edit on Wikidata]
Part of a series on
Private spaceflight
Active companies
Active vehicles
Contracts and programs
Related

Antares (/ænˈtɑːriːz/), known during early development as Taurus II, is an American expendable medium-lift launch vehicle developed and built by Orbital Sciences Corporation (later Orbital ATK and Northrop Grumman) with financial support from NASA under the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program awarded in February 2008, alongside the company's automated cargo spacecraft, Cygnus. Like other launch vehicles developed by Orbital, Antares leveraged lower-cost, off-the-shelf parts and designs.

The first stage is liquid fueled, burning RP-1 (kerosene) and liquid oxygen (LOX). Due to Orbital's limited experience with large liquid stages, the construction was subcontracted to the Ukrainian companies Pivdenne and Pivdenmash. Initially, the Antares 100 series used refurbished NK-33 engines, remnants of the Soviet N1 moon rocket. However, after a catastrophic explosion, the Antares 200 series transitioned to newly built Russian RD-191 engines. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Northrop Grumman announced plans for the Antares 300, featuring a new first stage developed in partnership with Firefly Aerospace. The new first stage, similar to Firefly's MLV launch vehicle, will incorporate composite structures and seven Miranda engines, increasing Antares's payload capacity.

The second stage is a Castor 30-series solid-fuel rocket, derived from the Castor 120 solid motor used in Orbital's Minotaur-C (the original Taurus I), and itself based on a Peacekeeper ICBM first stage. While an optional third stage is offered, it has never been used due to the Cygnus spacecraft's integrated service module.

Antares made its maiden flight on April 21, 2013, launching the Antares A-ONE mission from LP-0A at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) with a Cygnus mass simulator. Later that year, on September 18, the rocket successfully launched Orb-D1, the first Cygnus mission to rendezvous with the International Space Station (ISS). Following the successful completion of these two COTS demonstration missions, Antares and Cygnus have been awarded two Commercial Resupply Services contracts, encompassing a total of 25 missions to the ISS.

The COTS program also funded the development of SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket, aiming to stimulate the commercial space industry by creating two medium-lift launch vehicles. While SpaceX's Falcon 9 has achieved significant commercial success, Antares has not. To date, NASA remains Antares's sole customer, and Cygnus its only payload.

History

[edit]

As the Space Shuttle program neared its end, NASA sought to develop new capabilities for resupplying the International Space Station (ISS). Departing from the traditional model of government-owned and operated spacecraft, the agency proposed a new approach: commercial companies would operate spacecraft, while NASA would act as a customer.

To encourage innovation, NASA offered funding through the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program to support the development of new spacecraft and launch vehicles. On February 19, 2008, NASA announced that it would award Orbital Sciences Corporation a COTS contract worth $171 million. Orbital was expected to invest an additional $150 million, divided between $130 million for the rocket booster and $20 million for the spacecraft.[12]

As part of the COTS program, Orbital would be expected to conduct a successful demonstration of its rocket booster and spacecraft. If both demonstration flights were successful, Orbital would be eligible for a lucrative Commercial Resupply Service contract of $1.9 billion for eight flights to the ISS.[13]

In June 2008, it was announced that the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, formerly part of the Wallops Flight Facility, in Virginia, would be the primary launch site for the rocket.[14] Launch pad 0A (LP-0A), previously used for the failed Conestoga rocket, would be modified to handle Antares.[15] Wallops allows launches which reach the International Space Station's orbit as effectively as those from Cape Canaveral, Florida, while being less crowded.[12][16] The first Antares flight launched a Cygnus mass simulator.[17]

On December 10, 2009, Alliant Techsystems Inc. (ATK) test-fired their Castor 30 motor for use on the second stage of the Antares rocket.[18] In March 2010, Orbital Sciences and Aerojet completed test firings of the AJ-26 engines.[19]

Originally designated the Taurus II, Orbital Sciences renamed the vehicle Antares, after the star of the same name,[20] on December 12, 2011.

As of April 2012, development costs were estimated at $472 million.[1]

On February 22, 2013, a hot fire test was successfully performed, the entire first stage being erected on the pad and held down while the engines fired for 29 seconds.[17]

Design

[edit]
An assembled Antares rocket in the Horizontal Integration Facility.

First stage

[edit]

The first stage of Antares burns RP-1 (kerosene) and liquid oxygen (LOX). As Orbital had little experience with large liquid stages and LOX propellant, the first stage core was designed and is manufactured in Ukraine by Pivdenne Design Office and Pivdenmash[12] and includes propellant tanks, pressurization tanks, valves, sensors, feed lines, tubing, wiring and other associated hardware.[21] Like the Zenit—also manufactured by Pivdenmash—the Antares vehicle has a diameter of 3.9 m (150 in) with a matching 3.9 m payload fairing.[6]

Antares 100 series

[edit]

The Antares 100-series first stage was powered by two Aerojet AJ26 engines. These began as Kuznetsov NK-33 engines built in the Soviet Union in the late 1960s and early 1970s, 43 of which were purchased by Aerojet in the 1990s. Twenty of these were refurbished into AJ26 engines for Antares.[22] Modifications included equipping the engines for gimballing, adding US electronics, and qualifying the engines to fire for twice as long as designed and to operate at 108% of their original thrust.[3][19] Together they produced 3,265 kilonewtons (734,000 lbf) of thrust at sea level and 3,630 kN (816,100 lbf) in vacuum.[8]

Following the catastrophic failure of an AJ26 during testing at Stennis Space Center in May 2014 and the Orb-3 launch failure in October 2014, likely caused by an engine turbopump,[23] the Antares 100-series was retired.

Antares 200 series

[edit]

Because of concerns over corrosion, aging, and the limited supply of AJ26 engines, Orbital had selected new first stage engines[19][24] to bid on a second major long-term contract for cargo resupply of the ISS. After the loss of the Antares rocket in October 2014, Orbital Sciences announced that the Russian RD-181—a modified version of the RD-191—would replace the AJ-26 on the Antares 200-series.[25][26] The first flight of the Antares 230 configuration using the RD-181 launched on October 17, 2016, carrying the Cygnus OA-5 cargo to the ISS.

The Antares 200 and 200+ first stages are powered by two RD-181 engines, which provide 440 kilonewtons (100,000 lbf) more thrust than the dual AJ26 engines used on the Antares 100. Orbital adapted the existing core stage to accommodate the increased performance in the 200 Series, allowing Antares to deliver up to 6,500 kg (14,300 lb) to low Earth orbit.[7] The surplus performance of the Antares 200-series will allow Orbital to fulfill its ISS resupply contract in only four additional flights, rather than the five that would have been required with the Antares 100-series.[27][28][29]

While the 200 series adapted the originally ordered 100 Series stages (KB Pivdenne/Pivdenmash, Zenit derived),[30] it requires under-throttling the RD-181 engines, which reduces performance.[28]

The Antares was upgraded to the Antares 230+ for the NASA Commercial Resupply Services 2 contract. NG-12, launched November 2, 2019, was the first NASA CRS-2 mission to ISS using the 230+ upgrades. The most significant upgrades were structural changes to the intertank bay (between the LOX and RP-1 tanks) and the forward bay (forward of the LOX). Additionally, the company is working on trajectory improvements via a "load-release autopilot" that will provide greater mass to orbit capability.[31]

Antares 300 series

[edit]

In August 2022, Northrop Grumman announced that it had contracted Firefly Aerospace to build the 300-series first stage, which is similar to Firefly's in-development MLV launch vehicle, and features the same composite structures as well as seven Miranda engines producing 7,200 kN (1,600,000 lbf) of thrust—substantially greater than the previous 200-series first stage. Northrop Grumman states that the new first stage substantially increases the mass capability of Antares.[32][9]

The announcement occurred as a result of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has jeopardized supply chains for the previous first stages, which are manufactured in Ukraine and use RD-181 engines from Russia.[33]

Second stage

[edit]

The second stage is an Orbital ATK Castor 30-series solid-fuel rocket, developed as a derivative of the Castor 120 solid motor used as Minotaur-C's first stage, itself based on a LGM-118 Peacekeeper ICBM first stage.[34] The first two flights of Antares used a Castor 30A, which was replaced by the enhanced Castor 30B for subsequent flights. The Castor 30B produces 293.4 kN (65,960 lbf) average and 395.7 kN (88,960 lbf) maximum thrust, and uses electromechanical thrust vector control.[8] For increased performance, the larger Castor 30XL is available[30] and will be used on ISS resupply flights to allow Antares to carry the Enhanced Cygnus.[8][35][36]

The Castor 30XL upper stage for Antares 230+ is being optimized for the CRS-2 contract. The initial design of the Castor 30XL was conservatively built, and after gaining flight experience it was determined that the structural component of the motor case could be lightened.[31]

Third stage

[edit]

Antares offers three optional third stages: the Bi-Propellant Third Stage (BTS), a Star 48-based third stage and an Orion 38 motor. BTS is derived from Orbital's GEOStar, a spacecraft bus and uses nitrogen tetroxide and hydrazine for propellant; it is intended to precisely place payloads into their final orbits.[6] The Star 48-based stage uses a Star 48BV solid rocket motor and would be used for higher energy orbits.[6] The Orion 38 is used on the Minotaur and Pegasus rockets as an upper stage.[37]

Fairing

[edit]

The 3.9-meter (13 ft) diameter, 9.9-meter (32 ft) high fairing is manufactured by Northrop Grumman of Iuka, Mississippi, which also builds other composite structures for the vehicle, including the combined fairing adapter, dodecagon, motor cone, and interstage.[38]

Rear view of Antares

NASA Commercial Resupply Services-2 : Enhancements

[edit]

On January 14, 2016, NASA awarded three cargo contracts via CRS-2. Orbital ATK's Cygnus was one of these contracts.[39]

According to Mark Pieczynski, Orbital ATK Vice President, Flight Systems Group, "A further improved version [of Antares for CRS-2 contract] is in development which will include: Stage 1 core updates including structural reinforcements and optimization to accommodate increased loads. (Also) certain refinements to the RD-181 engines and CASTOR 30XL motor; and Payload accommodations improvements including a 'pop-top' feature incorporated in the fairing to allow late Cygnus cargo load and optimized fairing adapter structure".

Previously, it was understood that these planned upgrades from the Antares 230 series would create a vehicle known as the Antares 300 series. However, when asked specifically about Antares 300 series development, Mr. Pieczynski stated that Orbital ATK has "not determined to call the upgrades, we are working on, a 300 series. This is still TBD".[40]

In May 2018, the Antares program manager Kurt Eberly indicated that the upgrades will be referred to as Antares 230+.[31]

Configurations and numbering

[edit]
Test firing of Castor 30 second stage

The first two test flights used a Castor 30A second stage. All subsequent flights will use either a Castor 30B or Castor 30XL. The rocket's configuration is indicated by a three-digit number, the first number representing the first stage, the second the type of second stage, and the third the type of third stage.[35] A + sign added as suffix (fourth position) signifies performance upgrades to the Antares 230 variant.

Number First digit Second digit Third digit
(First stage) (Second stage) (Third stage)
0 — — No third stage
1 2 × AJ26-62 Castor 30A BTS (3 × BT-4)
2 2 × RD-181 Castor 30B Star 48BV
3 7 × Miranda Castor 30XL Orion 38

Notable missions and anomalies

[edit]

Antares A-ONE

[edit]
Main article: Antares A-ONE

Originally scheduled for 2012, the first Antares launch, designated A-ONE[41] was conducted on April 21, 2013,[42] carrying the Cygnus Mass Simulator (a boilerplate Cygnus spacecraft) and four CubeSats contracted by Spaceflight Incorporated: Dove 1 for Cosmogia Incorporated (now Planet Labs) and three PhoneSat satellites—Alexander,[43] Graham and Bell for NASA.[44]

Prior to the launch, a 27-second test firing of the rocket's AJ26 engines was conducted successfully on February 22, 2013, following an attempt on February 13 which was abandoned before ignition.[17]

A-ONE used the Antares 110 configuration, with a Castor 30A second stage and no third stage. The launch took place from Pad 0A of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island, Virginia. LP-0A was a former Conestoga launch complex which had only been used once before, in 1995, for the Conestoga's only orbital launch attempt.[11] Antares became the largest—and first—liquid-fuelled rocket to fly from Wallops Island, as well as the largest rocket launched by Orbital Sciences.[41]

The first attempt to launch the rocket, on April 17, 2013, was scrubbed after an umbilical detached from the rocket's second stage, and a second attempt on April 20 was scrubbed due to high altitude winds.[45] At the third attempt on April 21, the rocket lifted off at the beginning of its launch window. The launch window for all three attempts was three hours beginning at 21:00 UTC (17:00 EDT), shortening to two hours at the start of the terminal count, and ten minutes later[clarification needed] in the count.[11][46]

Cygnus CRS Orb-3

[edit]
Main article: Cygnus Orb-3
Video of Cygnus CRS Orb-3 failed launch
Pad 0A after the incident

On October 28, 2014, the attempted launch of an Antares carrying a Cygnus cargo spacecraft on the Orb-3 resupply mission failed catastrophically six seconds after liftoff from Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia.[47] An explosion occurred in the thrust section just as the vehicle cleared the tower, and it fell back down onto the launch pad. The range safety officer sent the destruct command just before impact.[48][49] There were no injuries.[50] Orbital Sciences reported that Launch Pad 0A "escaped significant damage",[49] though initial estimates for repairs were in the $20 million range.[51] Orbital Sciences formed an anomaly investigation board to investigate the cause of the incident. They traced it to a failure of the first stage LOX turbopump, but could not find a specific cause. However, the refurbished NK-33 engines, originally manufactured over 40 years earlier and stored for decades, were suspected as having leaks, corrosion, or manufacturing defects that had not been detected.[52] The NASA Accident Investigation Report was more direct in its failure assessment.[53] On October 6, 2015, almost one year after the accident, Pad 0A was restored to use. Total repair costs were about $15 million.[54]

Following the failure, Orbital sought to purchase launch services for its Cygnus spacecraft in order to satisfy its cargo contract with NASA,[24] and on December 9, 2014, Orbital announced that at least one, and possibly two, Cygnus flights would be launched on Atlas V rockets from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.[55] As it happened, Cygnus OA-4 and Cygnus OA-6 were launched with an Atlas V and the Antares 230 performed its maiden flight with Cygnus OA-5 in October 2016. One further mission was launched aboard an Atlas in April 2017 (Cygnus OA-7), fulfilling Orbital's contractual obligations towards NASA. It was followed by the Antares 230 in regular service with Cygnus OA-8E in November 2017, with three further missions scheduled on their extended contract.

Launch statistics

[edit]
This section is transcluded from List of Antares launches. (edit | history)

Rocket configurations

[edit]
  •   Antares 110
  •   Antares 120
  •   Antares 130
  •   Antares 230
  •   Antares 230+

Launch outcomes

[edit]
1
2
3
2013
'14
'15
'16
'17
'18
'19
'20
'21
'22
'23
  •   Failure
  •   Partial failure
  •   Success
  •   Scheduled

Operator

[edit]
1
2
3
2013
'14
'15
'16
'17
'18
'19
'20
'21
'22
'23

Launch history

[edit]
This section is transcluded from List of Antares launches. (edit | history)
Flight No. Date / time (UTC) Rocket variant Launch site Payload,
Spacecraft name 		Payload mass Orbit Operator Customer Launch
outcome
1 April 21, 2013
21:00 		Antares 110 MARS, LP-0A
— LEO Orbital Sciences Corporation NASA (COTS) Success
Antares A-ONE, Antares test flight, using a Castor 30A second stage and no third stage.[56][57]
2 September 18, 2013
14:58 		Antares 110 MARS, LP-0A Cygnus (standard)
Orb-D1
G. David Low[58] 		700 kg
(1,543 lb)[59] 		LEO (ISS) Orbital Sciences Corporation NASA (COTS) Success
Orbital Sciences COTS demonstration flight. First Antares mission with a real Cygnus capsule, first mission to rendezvous and berth with the International Space Station, second launch of Antares. The rendezvous maneuver was delayed due to a computer data link problem,[60] but the issue was resolved and berthing followed shortly thereafter.[61][62]
3 January 9, 2014
18:07 		Antares 120 MARS, LP-0A Cygnus (standard)
CRS Orb-1
C. Gordon Fullerton[58] 		1,260 kg
(2,780 lb)[63] 		LEO (ISS) Orbital Sciences Corporation NASA (CRS) Success
First Commercial Resupply Service (CRS) mission for Cygnus, and first Antares launch using the Castor 30B upper stage.[35][64]
4 July 13, 2014
16:52 		Antares 120 MARS, LP-0A Cygnus (standard)
CRS Orb-2
Janice Voss[65] 		1,494 kg
(3,293 lb)[66] 		LEO (ISS) Orbital Sciences Corporation NASA (CRS) Success
Spacecraft carried supplies for the ISS, including research equipment, crew provisions, hardware, and science experiments.[67]
5 October 28, 2014
22:22 		Antares 130 MARS, LP-0A Cygnus (standard)
CRS Orb-3
Deke Slayton[68] 		2,215 kg
(4,883 lb)[69] 		LEO (ISS) Orbital Sciences Corporation NASA (CRS) Failure
LOX turbopump failure T+6 seconds. Rocket fell back onto the pad and exploded.[53][47][50] First Antares launch to use Castor 30XL upper stage. In addition to ISS supplies, payload included a Planetary Resources Arkyd-3 satellite[70] and a NASA JPL/UT Austin CubeSat mission named RACE.[71]
6 October 17, 2016
23:45 		Antares 230 MARS, LP-0A Cygnus (enhanced)
CRS OA-5
Alan G. Poindexter[72] 		2,425 kg
(5,346 lb)[73] 		LEO (ISS) Orbital ATK NASA (CRS) Success
First launch of Enhanced Cygnus on Orbital's new Antares 230.[74][75][76][77]
7 November 12, 2017
12:19 		Antares 230 MARS, LP-0A Cygnus (enhanced)
CRS OA-8E
Gene Cernan[78] 		3,338 kg
(7,359 lb)[79] 		LEO (ISS) Orbital ATK NASA (CRS) Success
8 May 21, 2018
08:44 		Antares 230 MARS, LP-0A Cygnus (enhanced)
CRS OA-9E
J.R. Thompson[80] 		3,350 kg
(7,386 lb)[81] 		LEO (ISS) Orbital ATK NASA (CRS) Success
Spacecraft carried ISS hardware, crew supplies, and scientific payloads, including the Cold Atom Lab and the Biomolecule Extraction and Sequencing Technology experiment.[81] The Cygnus also demonstrated boosting the station's orbital velocity for the first time, by 0.06 meter per second.[82]
9 November 17, 2018
09:01 		Antares 230 MARS, LP-0A Cygnus (enhanced)
CRS NG-10
John Young 		3,416 kg
(7,531 lb) 		LEO (ISS) Northrop Grumman NASA (CRS) Success
Largest number of satellites launched on a single rocket (108). Cygnus NG-10, CHEFsat 2, Kicksat 2, 104 Sprite Chipsats (deployed from Kicksat 2), MYSAT 1.
10 April 17, 2019
20:46 		Antares 230 MARS, LP-0A Cygnus (enhanced)
CRS NG-11
Roger Chaffee[33] 		3,447 kg (7,600 lbs) LEO (ISS) Northrop Grumman NASA (CRS) Success
Launched the last mission under the Commercial Resupply Services-1 for Cygnus.[33]
11 November 2, 2019
13:59 		Antares 230+ MARS, LP-0A Cygnus (enhanced)
CRS NG-12
Alan Bean[83] 		3,728 kg (8,221 lbs) LEO (ISS) Northrop Grumman NASA (CRS) Success
Cygnus NG-12 is the first mission under the NASA Commercial Resupply Services-2 contract. NG-12 is also the first to use upgraded launcher, Antares 230+.
12 February 15, 2020
20:21 		Antares 230+ MARS, LP-0A Cygnus (enhanced)
CRS NG-13
Robert Lawrence, Jr. 		3,377 kg (7,445 lbs) LEO (ISS) Northrop Grumman NASA (CRS) Success
13 October 3, 2020
01:16 		Antares 230+ MARS, LP-0A Cygnus (enhanced)
CRS NG-14
Kalpana Chawla 		3,458 kg (7,624 lbs)[84] LEO (ISS) Northrop Grumman NASA (CRS) Success
Spacecraft carried ISS hardware, crew supplies, and scientific payloads, including a new toilet (Universal Waste Management System, UWMS), Ammonia Electrooxidation, radishes for Plant Habitat-02, drugs for targeted cancer treatments with Onco-Selectors, and a customized 360-degree camera to capture future spacewalks.[85][84]
14 February 20, 2021
17:36 		Antares 230+ MARS, LP-0A Cygnus (enhanced)
CRS NG-15
Katherine Johnson 		3,810 kg (8399 lbs)[86] LEO (ISS) Northrop Grumman NASA (CRS) Success
This mission carried over 8,000 pounds of cargo including roundworms to study muscle loss and the Spaceborne Computer 2, as well as an experiment to study the protein-based manufacturing of artificial retinas.[87]
15 August 10, 2021
22:01 		Antares 230+ MARS, LP-0A Cygnus (enhanced)
CRS NG-16
Ellison Onizuka 		3,723 kg (8210 lbs)[88] LEO (ISS) Northrop Grumman NASA (CRS) Success
16 February 19, 2022
17:40 		Antares 230+ MARS, LP-0A Cygnus (enhanced)
CRS NG-17
Piers Sellers 		3,800 kg (8,400 lb)[89] LEO (ISS) Northrop Grumman NASA (CRS) Success
17 November 7, 2022
10:32 		Antares 230+ MARS, LP-0A Cygnus (enhanced)
CRS NG-18
Sally Ride 		3,652 kg (8,051 lb)[90] LEO (ISS) Northrop Grumman NASA (CRS) Success
18 August 2, 2023
00:31 		Antares 230+ MARS, LP-0A Cygnus (enhanced)
CRS NG-19
Laurel Clark 		3,729 kg (8,221 lb)[91] LEO (ISS) Northrop Grumman NASA (CRS) Success
Final Antares 230+ launch.

Note: Cygnus CRS OA-4, the first Enhanced Cygnus mission, and Cygnus OA-6 were propelled by Atlas V 401 launch vehicles while the new Antares 230 was in its final stages of development. Cygnus CRS OA-7 was also switched to an Atlas V 401 and launched on April 18, 2017

Future launches

[edit]
This section is transcluded from List of Antares launches. (edit | history)
Date / time (UTC) Rocket variant Launch site Payload Orbit Customer
August 2025[92] Antares 330 MARS, LP-0A Cygnus (Mission B)
CRS NG-23 		LEO (ISS) NASA
First flight of the Antares 330.
January 2026[93] Antares 330 MARS, LP-0A Cygnus (Mission B)
CRS NG-24 		LEO (ISS) NASA
Second flight of the Antares 330.
2026[94] Antares 330 MARS, LP-0A Cygnus (Mission B)
CRS NG-25 		LEO (ISS) NASA
Third flight of the Antares 330.

Note: Cygnus NG-20 and Cygnus NG-21 were, Cygnus NG-22 will be propelled by Falcon 9 Block 5 launch vehicles while the new Antares 330 is in development.

Launch sequence

[edit]

The following table shows a typical launch sequence of Antares-100 series rockets, such as for launching a Cygnus spacecraft on a cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station.[66] The coast phase is required because the solid-fuel upper stage has a short burn time.[95]

Mission time Event Altitude
T− 03:50:00 Launch management call to stations
T− 03:05:00 Poll to initiate liquid oxygen loading system chilldown
T− 01:30:00 Poll for readiness to initiate propellant loading
T− 00:15:00 Cygnus/payload switched to internal power
T− 00:12:00 Poll for final countdown and MES medium flow chilldown
T− 00:11:00 Transporter-Erector-Launcher (TEL) armed for rapid retract
T− 00:05:00 Antares avionics switched to internal power
T− 00:03:00 Auto-sequence start (terminal count)
T− 00:02:00 Pressurize propellant tanks
T− 00:00:00 Main engine ignition
T+ 00:00:02.1 Liftoff 0
T+ 00:03:55 Main engine cut-off (MECO) 102 km (63 mi)
T+ 00:04:01 Stage one separation 108 km (67 mi)
T+ 00:05:31 Fairing separation 168 km (104 mi)
T+ 00:05:36 Interstage separation 170 km (106 mi)
T+ 00:05:40 Stage two ignition 171 km (106 mi)
T+ 00:07:57 Stage two burnout 202 km (126 mi)
T+ 00:09:57 Payload separation 201 km (125 mi)

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Rosenberg, Zach (April 30, 2012). "Orbital Sciences development costs increase". Flightglobal.com. Archived from the original on June 7, 2023.
  2. ^ "Surplus Missile Motors: Sale Price Drives Potential Effects on DOD and Commercial Launch Providers" (PDF). U.S. Government Accountability Office. August 2017. p. 30. GAO-17-609. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 20, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Kyle, Ed (February 19, 2022). "Space Launch Report: Antares (Taurus II)". Archived from the original on April 6, 2022. Retrieved September 24, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Antares (100 Series)". SpaceFlight101. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Antares 200 Series – Rockets". spaceflight101.com. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Antares Medium-class Launch Vehicle: Fact Sheet" (PDF). Orbital Sciences Corporation. 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 3, 2013. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  7. ^ a b "Antares – Fact Sheet" (PDF). Orbital ATK. 2017. FS007_06_OA_3695_021317. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 13, 2018. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Antares Medium-Class Launch Vehicle: Brochure" (PDF). Orbital Sciences Corporation. 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 9, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
  9. ^ a b "Northrop Grumman and Firefly to partner on upgraded Antares". SpaceNews. August 8, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  10. ^ "Antares". Yuzhnoye Design Bureau. Archived from the original on November 25, 2017. Retrieved November 19, 2017. Alt URL Archived November 29, 2020, at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ a b c Graham, William (April 21, 2013). "Antares conducts a flawless maiden launch". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  12. ^ a b c Bergin, Chris (February 25, 2008). "none". Space News. p. 12.
  13. ^ Chris Bergin (December 23, 2008). "SpaceX and Orbital win huge CRS contract from NASA". nasaspaceflight.com. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  14. ^ Hickey, Gordon (June 9, 2008). "Governor Kaine announces 125 new jobs for Virginia" (Press release). Commonwealth of Virginia from YesVirginia.org. Archived from the original on March 25, 2013. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
  15. ^ Kennedy, Jack (June 13, 2008). "Taurus-2 Launch Pad to be Ready in 18-Months at Wallops Island Spaceport". Spaceports. Blogspot.com.
  16. ^ Glass, Jon W. (February 20, 2008). "Wallops up for big role with firm's NASA contract". The Virginian-Pilot from HamptonRoads.com. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2008.
  17. ^ a b c Bergin, Chris (February 22, 2013). "Hot fire success for Orbital's Antares". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  18. ^ Beneski, Barron (December 10, 2009). "Second Stage Rocket Motor Of Orbital's Taurus II Launcher Successfully Ground Tested" (Press release). Orbital Sciences Corporation.
  19. ^ a b c Clark, Stephen (March 15, 2010). "Aerojet confirms Russian engine is ready for duty". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on March 22, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  20. ^ Beneski, Barron (December 12, 2011). "Orbital Selects "Antares" as Permanent Name for New Rocket Created by the Taurus II R&D Program" (Press release). Orbital Sciences Corporation.
  21. ^ "Antares User's Guide, Rev. 1.2" (PDF). Orbital Sciences Corporation. December 2009.
  22. ^ "Antares First-stage Engines Available Long Term, Aerojet Rocketdyne Chief Says". SpaceNews.com. June 17, 2013.
  23. ^ "SpaceflightNow". Engine turbopump eyed in Antares launch failure. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  24. ^ a b "Orbital's Cygnus – on a SpaceX Falcon 9?". spaceflightinsider.com. November 24, 2014. Archived from the original on December 1, 2020. Retrieved November 28, 2014. Orbital has announced that it is planning to use another engine on Antares and that it will likely not use any more of the 40-year-old AJ-26 engines on the rocket's next flight—which Orbital hopes to conduct in 2016.
  25. ^ "Orbital Sciences likely to choose Russian engine for new Antares rocket". TASS. October 31, 2014. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  26. ^ "Orbital Sciences signs contract for new Antares engines". Spaceflight Now. January 22, 2015. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
  27. ^ Morring, Frank Jr. (December 16, 2014). "Antares Upgrade Will Use RD-181s In Direct Buy From Energomash". Aviation Week. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  28. ^ a b Bergin, Chris (August 7, 2015). "Cygnus set for December Atlas V ride ahead of Antares return". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved August 12, 2015. LSP Vehicle Systems Engineering, Propulsion Engineering, Stress, Avionics and SMA (Safety and Mission Assurance) participated in the Antares Stage 1 CDR for the modifications necessary to integrate the RD-181 engines at both the 230 and 330 thrust levels.
  29. ^ "Orbital ATK Team on Track for Fall 2015 Cygnus Mission and Antares Return to Flight in 2016". Orbital ATK. August 12, 2015. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  30. ^ a b "Antares Medium-class Space Launch Vehicle factsheet" (PDF). Orbital Sciences. 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 14, 2015. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  31. ^ a b c Gebhardt, Chris (June 1, 2018). "Orbital ATK looks ahead to CRS2 Cygnus flights, Antares on the commercial market". NASASpaceFlight.com.
  32. ^ "Northrop Grumman Teams with Firefly Aerospace to Develop Antares Rocket Upgrade and New Medium Launch Vehicle". Northrop Grumman Newsroom. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  33. ^ a b c "Antares, Cygnus launch on final CRS1 contract flight; debuting critical new capabilities". NASASpaceFlight.com. April 17, 2019. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  34. ^ "CASTOR 30-A Multi-use Motor". Alliant Techsystems. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  35. ^ a b c Bergin, Chris (February 22, 2012). "Space industry giants Orbital upbeat ahead of Antares debut". NASA Spaceflight. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
  36. ^ Bergin, Chris (March 5, 2013). "CASTOR 30XL prepares for static fire ahead of providing Antares boost". NASA Spaceflight. Retrieved March 7, 2013.
  37. ^ "Antares User's Guide" (PDF). 3.0. Northrop Grumman. August 2018. TM-24022. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 6, 2018. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  38. ^ "Antares Launch Vehicle". Applied Aerospace Structures Corporation. Archived from the original on October 24, 2014. Retrieved April 26, 2014.
  39. ^ Warner, Cheryl; Schierholz, Stephanie (January 14, 2016). "NASA Awards International Space Station Cargo Transport Contracts". NASA. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  40. ^ Gebhardt, Chris (February 3, 2017). "Orbital ATK preps Cygnus flights; Antares enhancements on track for 2019". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  41. ^ a b Bergin, Chris (March 17, 2013). "Stars align for Orbital's Antares – A-One debut set for mid-April". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  42. ^ Clark, Stephen (April 21, 2013). "Antares test launch paves new highway to space station". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  43. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "PhoneSat v2". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  44. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "PhoneSat v1". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  45. ^ Weil, Martin (April 21, 2013). "Wind postpones rocket launch at Wallops Flight Facility". The Washington Post.
  46. ^ Amos, Jonathan (April 21, 2013). "Orbital's Antares rocket makes test flight". BBC News. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  47. ^ a b "Antares explodes moments after launch". Spaceflight Now. October 28, 2014. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  48. ^ Queally, James; Hennigan, W. J.; Raab, Lauren (October 28, 2014). "Rocket bound for space station blows up just after liftoff". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
  49. ^ a b "ISS Commercial Resupply Services Mission (Orb-3)". Orbital Sciences Corporation. October 30, 2014. Archived from the original on October 13, 2014. no evidence of significant damage
  50. ^ a b Wall, Mike (October 28, 2014). "Private Orbital Sciences Rocket Explodes During Launch, NASA Cargo Lost". Space.com. Purch. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  51. ^ Foust, Jeff (November 21, 2014). "Virginia May Seek Federal Funds for Wallops Spaceport Repairs". SpaceNews. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
  52. ^ Petersen, Melody (January 3, 2015). "Before explosion, NASA knew aging Soviet engines posed risks". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 4, 2015. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  53. ^ a b National Aeronautics and Space Administration - NASA Independent Review Team Orb–3 Accident Investigation Report Executive Summary nasa.gov
  54. ^ Clark, Stephen (October 6, 2015). "Workers complete $15 million in repairs to Antares launch pad". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
  55. ^ Kramer, Miriam (December 9, 2014). "Private Cargo Spacecraft Gets New Rocket Ride After Accident". Space.com. Archived from the original on October 8, 2017. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
  56. ^ Cite error: The named reference nasapr20130421 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  57. ^ Cite error: The named reference orbital201212 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  58. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference colspace20131209 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  59. ^ "Cygnus launch cargo". Spaceflight Now. September 14, 2013. Retrieved September 18, 2013.
  60. ^ Cite error: The named reference wapo20130922 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  61. ^ Cite error: The named reference nasasf20130928 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  62. ^ Cite error: The named reference sfnow20130506 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  63. ^ "New Science, NASA Cargo Launches to Space Station Aboard Orbital-1 Mission" (Press release). NASA. January 9, 2014. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  64. ^ "ISS Commercial Resupply Services Mission (Orb-1)". Orbital Sciences Corporation. January 12, 2014. Archived from the original on February 8, 2014.
  65. ^ Rawcliffe, Britt (July 11, 2014). "After delays, Orbital Sciences Corporation's Antares rocket set to launch". Spaceflight Insider. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  66. ^ a b "Orbital-2 Mission to the International Space Station: Media Press Kit" (PDF) (Press release). NASA. July 2014. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  67. ^ Cite error: The named reference orb2_orbital was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  68. ^ "ISS Commercial Resupply Services Mission (Orb-3): Mission Update – October 22, 2014". Orbital Sciences Corporation. October 22, 2014. Archived from the original on October 25, 2014. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  69. ^ "Orbital CRS-3 Mission to the International Space Station: Media Press Kit" (PDF) (Press release). NASA. October 2014. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  70. ^ Wilhelm, Steve (October 16, 2014). "First step toward asteroid mining: Planetary Resources set to launch test satellite". Puget Sound Business Journal. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
  71. ^ "RACE Mission". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Archived from the original on October 19, 2014. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  72. ^ "S.S. Alan Poindexter: Orbital ATK freighter named for late shuttle astronaut". collectSPACE. June 7, 2015.
  73. ^ "OA-5 Fact Sheet" (PDF). Orbital ATK. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 20, 2016. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
  74. ^ Cite error: The named reference orbatkpr-20150812a was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  75. ^ Cite error: The named reference Orbital_manifest was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  76. ^ "Orbital Announces Go-Forward Plan for NASA's Commercial Resupply Services Program and the Company's Antares Launch Vehicle". orbital.com. Orbital Sciences Corporation. November 5, 2014. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  77. ^ Clark, Stephen (October 17, 2016). "Spaceflight Now — Live coverage: Antares rocket returns to flight Monday". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  78. ^ "Cygnus "S.S. Gene Cernan" En-Route to Space Station after Sunday Morning Commute to Orbit". Spaceflight101.com. November 12, 2017. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  79. ^ "Overview – Orbital ATK CRS-8 Mission" (PDF) (Press release). NASA. 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  80. ^ Clark, Stephen (May 18, 2018). "Antares rocket rolls to Virginia launch pad, liftoff delayed to Monday". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  81. ^ a b "Overview: Orbital ATK CRS-9 Mission" (PDF). NASA. 2018. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  82. ^ Foust, Jeff (May 21, 2018). "Antares launches Cygnus cargo spacecraft to ISS". spacenews.com. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  83. ^ "Upgraded Antares ready to launch first CRS2 NASA flight of Cygnus". NASASpaceFlight.com. November 1, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  84. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Cygnus-NG-14-space-article was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  85. ^ Cite error: The named reference Cygnus-NG-14-nasa-press-release was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  86. ^ "Northrop Grumman CRS-15 Overview" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  87. ^ Powers, Kelly. "Worm muscles, artificial retinas, space laptops: NASA Wallops launches rocket to ISS". Dover Post. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  88. ^ "Overview for Northrop Grumman's 16th Commercial Resupply Mission". NASA. July 26, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  89. ^ "Overview for Northrop Grumman's 17th Commercial Resupply Mission". ISS Program Office. NASA. February 14, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2022. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  90. ^ Navin, Joseph (November 5, 2022). "SS Sally Ride Cygnus launches to ISS on NG-18 mission". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  91. ^ Josh, Dinner (August 2, 2023). "Antares rocket makes its final launch, sending cargo to the International Space Station". space.com. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  92. ^ "Antares 330 - CRS NG-23". Next Spaceflight. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  93. ^ "Antares 330 - CRS NG-24". Next Spaceflight. July 30, 2023. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  94. ^ Baylor, Michael. "Antares 330 - CRS NG-25". Next Spaceflight. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  95. ^ "Solid rocket stages and how they perform mission-precise orbit insertions". December 3, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Antares (rocket).

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Antares_(rocket)&oldid=1253969219"