Orb-2 mission to the International Space Station (ISS)

From Orbital:

Mission Update – July 3, 2014

Orbital has established July 11, 2014 as the targeted date for the launch of the Orb-2 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), the second operational cargo resupply mission under the company’s Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract with NASA. The targeted launch time from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on July 11 will be 1:40 p.m. (EDT).

The engineering team that is investigating the failure of an AJ26 engine during an acceptance test at Stennis Space Center recommended that certain inspections be performed on the two AJ26 engines that are currently integrated on the Antares rocket. These inspections were recently completed and program officials have cleared the rocket for flight.

Leading up to the launch, the Cygnus cargo logistics spacecraft will be mated to the rocket today. After the loading of the final time sensitive cargo and installation of the rocket’s payload fairing, Antares will be rolled out to the launch pad on July 9. A launch on July 11 will result in a rendezvous and berthing with the ISS on July 15. The Cygnus spacecraft will deliver 1,657 kg of cargo to the ISS and will be loaded with approximately 1,346 kg of material for disposal upon reentry into Earth’s atmosphere.

From NASA:

Orbital Sciences and the International Space Station Program officially have set Friday, July 11, as the launch date for the Antares rocket and the Cygnus cargo craft on the Orbital-2 resupply mission to the space station.

Launch time on July 11 is 1:40:27 p.m. EDT from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. NASA Television coverage will begin at 1 p.m.

A launch on July 11 will result in the rendezvous and grapple of Cygnus by Expedition 40 Commander Steve Swanson of NASA and Flight Engineer Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency at 7:24 a.m. on Tuesday, July 15. Rendezvous coverage on NASA TV will begin at 6:15 a.m.

NASA TV also will provide coverage of Cygnus’ berthing to Harmony beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Cygnus will remain berthed to the station until August 15.

 

 

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