Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Cygnus heads toward ISS

WALLOPS ISLAND, Va. – After a one-day delay, Orbital Science's Cygnus spacecraft took off today atop an Antares rocket from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility. The commercial spacecraft is heading for the International Space Station with about 1,500 pounds of clothes, food, water and other items. The spacecraft is due to arrive early Sunday, when it will be captured by astronauts using the outpost's robotic arm. If everything goes as planned, Cygnus will be the second commercial spacecraft to dock with ISS. SpaceX's Dragon capsule was the first. (Sources: multiple, including Space.com, Washington Post, 09/18/13) Gulf Coast note: The Antares engines were tested at Stennis Space Center, Miss. Previous