Jay Clemens
Orbital ATK and NASA have scheduled the return of company-built Antares launch vehicle to flight in the second half of September after completion of the rocket’s stage test in May.
According to a NASA blog entry posted Wednesday, Orbital ATK considered many factors when it targeted the September window such as the ongoing inspection and testing of the rocket at Wallops Island and the space agency’s scheduling of crew activities on the International Space Station.
The company currently conducts final integration and check out of the flight vehicle designed to launch the OA-5 Cygnus cargo resupply spacecraft to the orbiting laboratory.
Orbital ATK has completed five missions for NASA under the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services and Commercial Resupply Services programs.
