Friday, April 19, 2013

Antares to launch Saturday

The test flight of a new private cargo-carrying rocket will come no earlier than Saturday afternoon due to weather delays and a technical glitch. Private aerospace firm Orbital Sciences Corp. wanted to fly the two-stage Antares rocket Wednesday from Virginia's Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island, but a data cable separated from the booster and forced a delay. Orbital then tried for Friday but weather got in the way. (Source: Space.com, 04/19/13) Gulf Coast note: The AJ26 engines that power Antares are tested at Stennis Space Center, Miss. Previous