Press-center
Press-center
CYGNUS SPACECRAFT/ANTARES LV LAUNCH
The latest successful launch of Antares launch vehicle was made from Wallops Flight Facility (USA) on July 13, 2014, at 19 h 52 min Kiev time. The design date of Cygnus cargo spacecraft to International Space Station (ISS) docking is 15 July. The prime developing company of LV is Orbital Science Corporation (USA).
Antares launch vehicle placed into orbit Cygnus cargo spacecraft that shall deliver to ISS 1657 kg payload including the equipment necessary for operation at the station. Nanosatellites for the Earth surface imaging are also among the spacecraft cargoes. They will be delivered to designed orbits in the future by a method of ejection from the station through a special bay. After unloading the spacecraft will take from the station 1346 kg debris, which will burn up together with Cygnus spacecraft in the dense atmosphere.
It was the fourth launch of new launch vehicle Antares. The third launch of LV was made on 9 January, this year. Antares LV is intended, firstly, for cargoes delivery to ISS as well as for launching commercial and state spacecraft.
Antares LV Stage I Core Structure is developed by Yuzhnoye State Design Office, manufactured by Yuzhny Machine-Building Plant in cooperation with Ukrainian companies Hartron-ARCOS (Kharkov), Kievpribor (Kiev), Hartron-YuKOM (Zaporozhye), ChEZARA, RAPID (Chernigov), etc. The Ukrainian specialists participated in prelaunch and launch operations.