Taurus tests expected in April

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. – First stage engine testing for the Taurus 2 rocket at Stennis Space Center is expected in April or May. Orbital Sciences is still hoping for a March 2011 debut of the company’s medium-lift Taurus 2 rocket, according to Frank Culbertson, Orbital senior vice president. Orbital is building the Taurus 2 to launch the company's Cygnus cargo freighter to the International Space Station. The Taurus 2 rocket first stage will use a pair of kerosene-fueled AJ26 main engines provided by Aerojet Corp. The first batch of AJ26 engines is slated to arrive at Stennis no earlier than March, nearly a year later than expected in schedules announced in late 2008. (Source: Spaceflight Now, 01/20/10)