NASA Antares Rocket Test Successful - Maiden Voyage Marks Next Step In Agency's Plan To Privatize Space Missions

The NASA Antares rocket made its successful maiden voyage Sunday when it was launched off the coast of Virginia at 5 p.m. ET as part of the agency's test mission to have the craft reach orbit. 

Orbital Science Corp. developed the rocket that was launched from the newly constructed Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility.

This mission marks the next step in the agency's plan to eventually privatize space missions in response to the space shuttle fleet retirement.

"Today's successful test marks another significant milestone in NASA's plan to rely on American companies to launch supplies and astronauts to the International Space Station, bringing this important work back to the United States where it belongs," said Charles Bolden, NASA administrator.

"Congratulations to Orbital Sciences and the NASA team that worked alongside them for the picture-perfect launch of the Antares rocket. In addition to providing further evidence that our strategic space exploration plan is moving forward, this test also inaugurates America's newest spaceport capable of launching to the space station, opening up additional opportunities for commercial and government users."

The successful test flight of the Antares rocket comes after Friday's launch had to be rescheduled due to technical issues and after Saturday's flight was postponed due to high winds.

It took nine minutes for the two-stage rocket, carrying a dummy capsule weighing about 8,300 pounds, to reach orbit with an altitude of 155 miles and a speed clocked at 17,000 mph.

But due to the design of the craft, the rocket did not actually launch from the pad until two seconds after the engines were initially ignited. And after a minute, the rocket reached an altitude of 3 miles and a subsonic speed of about 460 mph.

This mission is the first of two that are scheduled for this year by Orbital as part of its contract with NASA. The rocket is slated to reach the International Space Station later in the year.

(SOURCE)