First Cygnus Mission to ISS Due in September

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Orbital Sciences Targeting September Launch To Station

Orbital Sciences, one of NASA’s two partners participating in the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program, announced it is now targeting a mid-September launch window for its demonstration flight to the International Space Station. Orbital will launch its Cygnus cargo spacecraft aboard the Antares rocket between Sept. 14-19 from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. It will spend several days heading toward the International Space Station where it will perform a series of checkout maneuvers, ensuring it can safely enter the keep-out zone of the orbiting complex. After those tests have been passed, Cygnus will proceed for an attempted rendezvous with the space station and will be captured by the crew on board. The rendezvous is targeted for Sept. 22.

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