Northrop Grumman’s Antares Rocket to Conclude Missions as Company Shifts Focus to Space Coast
In a major development in the space industry, Northrop Grumman’s Antares rocket is set to make its final launch for the foreseeable future. This current version of the rocket will take off from Virginia this week before the company transitions its resupply missions to the International Space Station (ISS) to the Space Coast later this year.
The Antares rocket, carrying the Cygnus spacecraft filled with over 8,200 pounds of science experiments, successfully launched from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. It then rendezvoused with the ISS, marking a significant accomplishment for Northrop Grumman.
Dubbed the NG-19 mission, this launch is dedicated to the memory of NASA astronaut Laurel Clark, who tragically lost her life in the Columbia space shuttle disaster in 2003. Northrop Grumman has been at the forefront of space exploration, having flown 20 Cygnus spacecraft missions over the past decade. These missions delivered a staggering total of more than 130,000 pounds of supplies to the ISS.
This final launch of the current Antares rocket also holds historical significance. It signifies the end of Northrop Grumman’s use of Russian-made RD-181 engines on the rocket’s first stage. Due to federal laws and supply chain issues related to the conflict in Ukraine, the company decided to partner with Firefly Aerospace in 2022 to develop a new version of the Antares rocket.
However, the American-made Antares rocket will not be operational until at least 2025. In the meantime, Northrop Grumman negotiated an agreement to send its Cygnus spacecraft on future missions using SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets from Florida. At least two more resupply launches with SpaceX are planned for Northrop Grumman in 2024, with the possibility of more through 2025.
This collaboration between Northrop Grumman and SpaceX ensures regular resupply arrivals for astronauts on the ISS approximately every three months. Furthermore, Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser aims to join these regular resupply missions after successfully completing its test flights.
It’s worth noting that the Cygnus spacecraft, after fulfilling its mission on the ISS, is designed to burn up upon reentry into Earth’s atmosphere. However, it possesses the capability to boost the station’s orbital altitude.
Looking ahead, Northrop Grumman’s new American-made Antares 330 rocket, developed in collaboration with Firefly Aerospace, promises an increased launch capacity compared to the current version. This advancement will undoubtedly fuel the company’s ambition to support and expand its contributions to space exploration.
As the Antares rocket concludes its current chapter, space enthusiasts can eagerly anticipate the new developments that Northrop Grumman and its partners have in store for the future.
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