Science
Hotfire Test of US Antares Rocket Slated for Tuesday
The first stage of Orbital Sciences Corporation’s Antares rocket stands in launch position during pathfinder operations at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport
© NASA P. Black
The U.S. will conquer deep space with Russian enginesMOSCOW, February 10 (RIA Novosti) - The hotfire engine test of the new US Antares medium-class rocket is scheduled for February 12, the Universe Today portal said on Saturday.
Antares, formerly known as Taurus II, was developed by Orbital Sciences to carry the Cygnus spacecraft for resupply missions to the International Space Station (ISS). Its first stage engine is based on the Soviet NK-33 rocket engine.
For the 29-second-long engine test due at about 18:00 local time Tuesday (23:00 GMT), the first stage of the rocket will be rolled out to the launch pad at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility.
If the test is successful, Antares will be test-launched about four weeks later, carrying a Cygnus mass simulator payload.
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