Wallops Antares launch set for tonight: When to look to the skies

Kristian Jaime, Salisbury Daily Times
Updated ·3 min read

This article was updated at 11:22 a.m. on Monday, July 31, to include where the public could watch the launch from Wallops Flight Facility.

Viginia's Wallops Flight Facility is continuing its busy slate of projects, announcing on Wednesday the launch date for the next Antares rocket launch from the spaceport.

The rocket carries the Cygnus spacecraft and is the 69th expedition for the crew.

When is the launch?

NASA and Northrop Grumman are targeting liftoff of the Antares rocket and Cygnus spacecraft, named the S.S. Laurel Clark, for no earlier than 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1, from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport’s Pad 0A at the agency’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

The launch of Northrop Grumman’s Antares rocket carrying the Cygnus spacecraft Nov. 7, 2022, with cargo for the International Space Station from Wallops Island, Virginia.
The launch of Northrop Grumman’s Antares rocket carrying the Cygnus spacecraft Nov. 7, 2022, with cargo for the International Space Station from Wallops Island, Virginia.

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The commercial resupply services mission will deliver NASA science investigations, supplies and equipment to the International Space Station.

The evening launch may be visible, weather permitting, to residents throughout the mid-Atlantic region and possibly the East Coast of the United States.

This will be Northrop Grumman’s 19th commercial resupply services mission for NASA, delivering science investigations, supplies and equipment to the International Space Station.

Viewing locations on Chincoteague Island include Robert Reed Park on Main Street or Beach Road spanning the area between Chincoteague and Assateague Islands. The Virginia, Maryland and Delaware Atlantic beaches also provide good viewing locations.

Members of the public can experience the thrill of a rocket launch in person from the launch viewing area at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center. The Visitor Center will have special hours on launch day, opening from 5:30-9 p.m. The Visitor Center will not be open outside of the launch viewing event on Aug. 1 to allow for event preparation. Visitors interested in viewing the launch from the Visitor Center are encouraged to carpool as parking is limited. More launch viewing information is available on the visitor center website.

Live launch coverage and countdown commentary will begin at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1, and air on NASA Television and the agency’s website, as well as YouTube, Twitter, and the NASA’s App.

Members of the public outside of the viewing area can register to attend the launch virtually. Virtual guests will have access to curated resources, schedule changes and mission specific information straight to your inbox. Following each activity, virtual guests are sent a mission-specific collectable stamp for their virtual guest passport. Hear more about the virtual guest program from the Crew-5 astronauts!

Get more information about Northrop Grumman's Antares rocket and the Cygnus cargo spacecraft at the official website.

What is the next mission for Antares from Wallops?

Northrop Grumman’s Antares rocket carrying the Cygnus spacecraft Nov. 6, 2022, with cargo for the International Space Station from Wallops Island, Virginia.
Northrop Grumman’s Antares rocket carrying the Cygnus spacecraft Nov. 6, 2022, with cargo for the International Space Station from Wallops Island, Virginia.

Following launch, Cygnus will be grappled by the space station’s Canadarm2 no earlier than Friday, Aug. 4, and berthed to the Unity module’s Earth-facing port for cargo unloading by the Expedition 69 crew.

Each resupply mission to the station delivers scientific investigations in the areas of biology and biotechnology, Earth and space science, physical sciences, and technology development and demonstrations.

ANTARES LAUNCH GALLERY: Northrop Grumman's Antares rocket takes off on 2nd try for International Space Station: PHOTOS

What's aboard the Cygnus spacecraft?

Highlights of space station research aboard this Cygnus are:

  • The final iteration of a series of flammability experiments

  • A new potable water dispenser that provides hot water and improved sanitization

  • Neural cells that will be cultured into 3D cell models for gene therapy testing

  • A probe that measures plasma contents of the upper atmosphere

  • A memory card that contains creative works from students around the world

Cargo resupply from U.S. companies ensures a national capability to deliver critical scientific research to the space station, significantly increasing NASA's ability to conduct new investigations aboard humanity’s laboratory in space.

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This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: All to know about big Wallops Antares launch set for tonight