Orbital Sciences Launch to Space Station with NASA Research Reset for Thursday

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Jan 08, 2014, 09:04 ET

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Orbital Sciences has confirmed it will proceed with a launch attempt from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Wallops Island, Va. at 1:07 p.m. EST Thursday, Jan. 9 of its cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station, pending closeout of all remaining prelaunch reviews and tests.

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NASA Television launch coverage begins at 12:45 p.m. A post-launch news conference would follow at approximately 2:30 p.m.

Wednesday's launch of Orbital's Cygnus cargo spacecraft on an Antares rocket was scrubbed because of high levels of space radiation that exceeded established rocket constraints. Orbital conducted a comprehensive review Wednesday of data related to the radiation environment in space, the rocket's avionics systems, and weather forecast at Wallops. Following the review, Orbital's engineering team, in consultation with NASA, determined the risk to launch success is within acceptable limits established at the outset of the Antares program.

A Thursday launch would result in the Cygnus spacecraft arriving at the space station early Sunday, Jan. 12. NASA TV coverage of rendezvous and berthing will begin at 5 a.m. for a 6:02 a.m. capture. Coverage of Cygnus' installation will begin at 7 a.m.

For the latest information on news conference and coverage times, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntvnews

For more information about Orbital's cargo mission and International Space Station, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

Trent J. Perrotto
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
[email protected]

Josh Byerly
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
[email protected]

SOURCE NASA