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A two-storey Northrop Grumman Antares rocket was released Monday from its horizontal integration facility for the south launch of the 0A platform at Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport in Virginia, where a space station replenishment mission is scheduled for Wednesday.
Driving a self-propelled transporter / erector on a two-lane highway, the Antares rocket completed the one-kilometer trip to runway 0A with a climb upstream of the ramp leading to the launch pad at the seaside. The 42-foot (139-foot) Antares rocket was lifted vertically to platform 0A for final checks before the flight on Monday night.
After successfully completing a combined systems test, in which the engineers checked all connections between the Antares rocket, the ground systems and the Cygnus tanker, the launcher was flipped horizontally Tuesday night to allow the final loading of cargo sensitive to the time factor.
The late loading procedure marks the first time Northrop Grumman has added time-sensitive payloads to the Cygnus Space Shuttle less than 24 hours before take-off. This ability allows teams to load fresh food and research samples shortly before launch. Teams plan to add a habitat containing mice for immune system research on the Cygnus spacecraft that is due to take off Wednesday.
The launch of the Northrop Grumman NG-11 cargo mission is scheduled for 16:46. EDT (20:46 GMT) Wednesday, and the supply ship is scheduled to arrive at the space station on Friday.
Two main engines of the RD-181, burning kerosene and liquid oxygen, will chase the Antares launcher from the cushion with a push of about 864,000 pounds.
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