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Technicians working on launch pad 0A at NASA's Wallops flight facility in Virginia completed the last load of cargo in Northrop Grumman's Cygnus tanker ship late Tuesday, and the Antares rocket was raised to the vertical in April. view of the countdown on Wednesday.
Specialists removed the Antarès rocket payload shield roof and opened the Cygnus Space Shuttle forward hatch on Tuesday evening to load a time-sensitive cargo into the tanker ship. This mission is the first time that Northrop Grumman has introduced a new equipment installation capacity into the cargo unit's pressurized module less than 24 hours before take-off.
Items loaded Tuesday night included a habitat with 40 mice heading to the International Space Station to help researchers study the impact of microgravity on the animals' immune systems.
With the ground work completed, the ground crews closed the door and replaced the payload hood on the rocket, then lifted Antares vertically early Wednesday morning.
The launch of the Antares rocket 42 meters (139 feet) high is scheduled for 16:46: 07h. EDT (20:46 midnight GMT).
Check out our Mission Status Center for updates on the countdown and launch.
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