Antares 230 Series Rocket Makes Final Flight to ISS

Antares 230 Series Rocket Makes Final Flight to ISS

 

  

 

An Antares 230+ rocket launched from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on Tuesday night, carrying a Cygnus cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station. The launch marked the final flight for the Antares 230 series, which has been in service since 2013.

 

The Cygnus spacecraft, named the SS Laurel Clark, is carrying about 8,000 pounds of cargo to the ISS, including food, water, clothing, science experiments, and spare parts. The spacecraft is expected to dock with the ISS on Wednesday.

 

The Antares 230 series was developed by Northrop Grumman as part of its Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA. The rocket is powered by a Ukrainian-built first stage and a Russian-made engine. However, the supply lines for these components were disrupted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

 

As a result, Northrop Grumman is developing a new version of the Antares rocket, the Antares 330. The Antares 330 will use American-made components and is expected to make its first flight in 2024.

 

The launch of the SS Laurel Clark marked the end of an era for the Antares 230 series. The rocket has played a vital role in supporting the ISS, and its retirement will leave a gap in NASA's cargo transportation capabilities. However, the Antares 330 is expected to fill this gap, and it will continue to provide reliable and affordable access to the ISS for years to come.

 

  

 

Quotes from officials:

 

 "The Antares rocket has been a workhorse for NASA's Commercial Resupply Services program," said Kathy Lueders, associate administrator for human exploration and operations at NASA. "The final flight of the Antares 230 series is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the Northrop Grumman team."

 "The SS Laurel Clark is named after the late astronaut Laurel Clark, who was killed in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003," said Frank DeAngelo, vice president of space systems at Northrop Grumman. "We are honored to carry her name on this mission, and we are proud to continue our support of the ISS."

 

  

 

Additional information:

 

 The Antares 230 series has launched 10 times since 2013, with a perfect success record.

 The Cygnus spacecraft is a reusable cargo carrier that has been used on 16 missions to the ISS.

 The Antares 330 is expected to be more powerful and efficient than the Antares 230 series.

 

  

 

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