Northrop Grumman Space Systems // NET April 21, 2023
Cygnus CRS-2 NG-19
Launch Overview
Lift of Time:
Launch Window:
Launch Pad:
Launch Facility:
NET April 2023
To be determined
Launch Area 0 A
Wallops Island
Mission Details
Who is NGSS?
Northrup Grumman Space Systems designs, builds and delivers space, defence and aviation-related systems to customers around the world. They aquired Orbital ATK in 2018 along with its launchers and ongoing missions.
What Is Antares 230+?
Antares known during early development as Taurus II, is an expendable launch system developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation (now part of Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems after Northrop Grumman acquired Orbital ATK) and the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau to launch the Cygnus spacecraft to the International Space Station as part of NASA's COTS and CRS programs. Able to launch payloads heavier than 5,000 kg (11,000 lb) into low-Earth orbit, Antares is the largest rocket operated by Orbital ATK. Antares launches from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport and made its inaugural flight on April 21, 2013.
Engines
RD-181 (stage 1)
The RD-181, translated from Russian as "Rocket Engine 181", is derrived from the RD-191 used on the Angara launch vehicle, but motified to work with Antares. It runs on RP-1 and LOX and uses the staged combustion cycle.
The 200 series of the Antares rocket family uses the RD-181 on its first stage. Antares has primarily been used to launch the Cygnus spacecraft for resupply missions to the International Space Station for NASA's Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) program. However, the end is approaching for the 200-series of the Antares family due to Russia limiting access to its engines as a result of recent events.
CASTOR 30XL (stage 2)
Rocket Overview
Rocket:
Antares 230+
Launch Area 0 A
Wallops Island, Virginia, USA
