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(UPDATED) Thursday launches scheduled from Wallops

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NASA launches sounding rockets from Wallops after several delays | WAVY.com

The two sounding rocket launches from Wallops that were postponed last week due to wind conditions are on the launch schedule for Thursday (2/16) during a 7a.m. to 930a.m. window and will be livestreamed.  Backup launches could occur through Sunday. 

Wallops Rocket Lab launches

 

Inaugural launch could come late this year.

View Shore Daily News article:

Rocket Lab announces first Wallops launch - Shore Daily News

Thursday Night Launch From Wallops

 (WESR/Shore Daily News)

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https://shoredailynews.com/headlines/74629/

Rocket Launch Scheduled For Tonight From Wallops

Rocket Launch Scheduled June 4 From Wallops

WALLOPS ISLAND, VA – A Black Brant XII suborbital rocket carrying the Cosmic Infrared Background ExpeRiment (CIBER)is scheduled for launch between 11 and 11:59 p.m. EDT, June 4, from NASA’s launch range at the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

The backup launch days are June 5 through 10. The rocket may be visible to residents in the mid-Atlantic region.

With CIBER, scientists will be studying when the first stars and galaxies formed in the universe and how brightly they burned their nuclear fuel.

Jamie Bock, CIBER principal investigator from the California Institute of Technology, said, “The objectives of the experiment are of fundamental importance for astrophysics: to probe the process of first galaxy formation. The measurement is extremely difficult technically.”

This will be the fourth flight for CIBER on a NASA sounding rocket. The previous launches were in 2009, 2010 and 2012 from the White Sands Missile Range, N.M. After each flight the experiment or payload was recovered for post-calibrations and re-flight.
For this flight CIBER will fly on a larger and more powerful rocket than before. This will loft CIBER to a higher altitude than those previously obtained, thus providing longer observation time for the instruments. The experiment, which will safely splash down in the Atlantic Ocean more than 400 miles off the Virginia coast, will not be recovered.

The NASA Visitor Center at Wallops will open at 9:30 p.m. on launch day for public viewing of the launch.

The mission will be available live on Ustream beginning at 10 p.m. on launch day at: http://www.ustream.com/channel/nasa-wallops

Mission status on launch day can be followed on Twitter and Facebook at:http://www.twitter.com/NASA_Wallops or http://www.facebook.com/NASAWFF

Mission status also is available on the Wallops launch status line at 757-824-2050.
More information on CIBER and the NASA Sounding Rocket Program is available at:http://www.nasa.gov/soundingrockets

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/news/ciberla.html

Rocket Launch Scheduled June 4 From Wallops

WALLOPS ISLAND, VA – A Black Brant XII suborbital rocket carrying the Cosmic Infrared Background ExpeRiment (CIBER)is scheduled for launch between 11 and 11:59 p.m. EDT, June 4, from NASA’s launch range at the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

The backup launch days are June 5 through 10. The rocket may be visible to residents in the mid-Atlantic region.

With CIBER, scientists will be studying when the first stars and galaxies formed in the universe and how brightly they burned their nuclear fuel.

Jamie Bock, CIBER principal investigator from the California Institute of Technology, said, “The objectives of the experiment are of fundamental importance for astrophysics: to probe the process of first galaxy formation. The measurement is extremely difficult technically.”

This will be the fourth flight for CIBER on a NASA sounding rocket. The previous launches were in 2009, 2010 and 2012 from the White Sands Missile Range, N.M. After each flight the experiment or payload was recovered for post-calibrations and re-flight.

For this flight CIBER will fly on a larger and more powerful rocket than before. This will loft CIBER to a higher altitude than those previously obtained, thus providing longer observation time for the instruments. The experiment, which will safely splash down in the Atlantic Ocean more than 400 miles off the Virginia coast, will not be recovered.

The NASA Visitor Center at Wallops will open at 9:30 p.m. on launch day for public viewing of the launch.

The mission will be available live on Ustream beginning at 10 p.m. on launch day at: http://www.ustream.com/channel/nasa-wallops

Mission status on launch day can be followed on Twitter and Facebook at:http://www.twitter.com/NASA_Wallops or http://www.facebook.com/NASAWFF

Mission status also is available on the Wallops launch status line at 757-824-2050.

More information on CIBER and the NASA Sounding Rocket Program is available at:  http://www.nasa.gov/sounding rockets.



www.nasa.gov

Antares Rocket Rehearses For Countdown On Wednesday

NASA Photo

On Saturday, Orbital Sciences Corporation conducted a wet dress rehearsal for the Antares rocket in preparation its Test Flight scheduled for later this week on April 17.

 Late in the countdown, at about T-16 minutes, the test was halted because the launch team had detected a technical anomaly in the process. Orbital has determined that a secondary pyro valve aboard one of the two first-stage engines used in the propellant chilldown process was not functioning properly.

 A replacement unit will be installed within 24 hours with the goal of maintaining the April 17 launch date.

To stay updated:
NASA.GOV

Launch From NASA/ Wallops Postponed

The rocket launch scheduled from NASA/Wallop Flight Facility has been  rescheduled due to weather conditions. The launch was originally set for early Friday morning.

The launch of the Terrier-Lynx suborbital rocket has been rescheduled for Monday, March 11, 2012 between 1:30 a.m. and 2:15 a.m.

The rocket may be visible to residents in the mid-Atlantic region.
The launch will not be shown live on the Internet nor will launch status updates be provided on social media once the countdown begins. The NASA Visitor Center at Wallops will not be open for viewing the launch.

NASA/ Wallops Flight Facility

NASA ~ Rescheduled

 
 
 

UPDATE: The engine test for Orbital Sciences Antares rocket on the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport’s pad-0A at NASA Wallops Flight Facility has been rescheduled for 6 to 9 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 13.

U.S. Navy Will Do Landing Operations At Wallops

NASA'S Wallops Flight Facility has been chosen for Navy Practice Landing.

Officials say the Navy has  determined the operations of field carrier landing practice at Wallops Island would have no significant environmental impacts on the local area.

Wallops was selected over the Emporia-Greensville Regional Airport and will begin practice at the NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia's Eastern Shore this summer.

The Navy says the  aircraft (E-2 Hawkeye and C-2 Greyhound) will conduct up to 20,000 passes annually at the Wallops Island site.

The twin engine, turboprop aircraft are said to be quieter than jet aircraft.

Rigell Applauds Navy's Selection of Wallops Flight Facility for E-2/C-2 Field Carrier Landing Practice     

             
Washington, DC – On Thursday, the Navy announced it had selected Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia’s Eastern Shore for E-2/C-2 Field Carrier Landing Practice (FCLP) for aircraft stationed at Naval Station Norfolk. The announcement came after a two-year consideration period. The Navy recently completed an Environmental Assessment (EA) which determined there would be no significant impact on nearby communities as a result of landing practice.

Congressman Scott Rigell (VA-2), a member of the House Armed Services Committee represents Virginia’s entire Eastern Shore, including Wallops Flight Facility. Rigell said he was pleased with the Navy’s decision and looked forward to seeing flight operations begin.

“NASA Wallops Flight Facility is a world class operation and I am encouraged that the Navy has chosen it as a partner to conduct Field Carrier Landing Practice for E-2/C-2 aircraft,” Rep. Rigell said. “Home to more active duty and retired military personnel than any other district in the country, VA-2 is proud to support our military in any way we can, and welcomes the Navy’s business to the Eastern Shore.”

Launch From NASA On Tuesday

An U.S. Air Force Minotaur 1 rocket carrying the Department of Defenses Operationally Responsive Space offices ORS-1 satellite is scheduled for launch June 28 from NASAs Launch Range at the Wallops Flight Facility and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport in Virginia.


ORS-1 is the Operationally Responsive Space Offices first operational satellite. Rapidly developing and fielding ORS-1 is an important step to demonstrate the capability to meet emerging and persistent war-fighter needs on operationally relevant timelines.


The Minotaur 1 rocket, integrated by Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC), is a four-stage vehicle, two stages being refurbished Minuteman II stages and the other two stages being OSC developed. The Minotaur is about 70 feet tall and 5 feet wide. The U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Centers Space Development and Test Wing has overall mission management responsibility. This will be the fourth Minotaur 1 rocket launched from NASAs Wallops Flight Facility and the Spaceport since December 2006.


Based on the approved range schedule, the rocket is set for launch between 8:28 and 11:28 p.m. EDT. The backup launch days are June 29 July 10 . The launch may be visible, depending on cloud cover and ones viewing location, in the eastern United States from southern New York to North Carolina. It may be seen as far west from the Atlantic Coast as West Virginia and western Pennsylvania. Further information on the mission, including where to view the launch, is available on the internet at:  www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/missions/ORS.html

Source; shoredailynews.com

Exercises From NASA Beginning Tonight

NORFOLK, Va. - The Navy is planning to conduct its first live sea-based Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) test on the East Coast this weekend.

The test is part of exercise Atlantic Trident 2011 scheduled through January 25.

According to the Navy, the exercise will provide realistic training for BMD ships and give them the opportunity to track a live target and simulate intercept of a short-range target missile in the midcourse phase of flight.

A target missile will be launched from the NASA Wallops Island Flight Facility on Virginia's Eastern Shore. The launch is scheduled during the overnight hours of Friday night into Saturday morning.

As part of the exercise, the Navy says a cruiser and destroyer will detect and track the target with its SPY-1 radar, develop fire control solutions, and simulate firing SM-3 missiles.

The Navy stresses that no missiles will be fired from the ships as Atlantic Trident 2011 is a tracking exercise only.

Aegis BMD is the sea-based mid-course component of the Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) and is designed to intercept and destroy short to intermediate-range ballistic missile threats.

The MDA and the U.S. Navy cooperatively manage the Aegis BMD program.

www.wavy.com

New Rocket Integration Facility to be Unveiled At NASA

NASA will unveil its new rocket integration facility at the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. EST on Friday, Jan. 21.

The Horizontal Integration Facility will support medium class mission capabilities. The first customer to use the facility will be Orbital Sciences Corporation of Dulles, Va., with its Taurus II launch vehicle.

Orbital will be conducting missions for NASA under the agency's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services project and Commercial Resupply Services program. Integration of the Taurus II at the facility will begin in February with launch expected later this year.

Participants in the ceremony:
- Sen. Barbara Mikulski
- NASA Administrator Charles Bolden
- NASA Associate Administrator for Space Operations William Gerstenmaier
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Director Rob Strain
- NASA Wallops Flight Facility Director William Wrobel
- Orbital Sciences Corp. Chairman and CEO David Thompson

For more information about Wallops, visit:
www.nasa.gov/wallops

New Date For Rocket Launch From NASA

ATLANTIC, Va.- NASA has delayed by at least one day the planned launch of a suborbital rocket from the Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia's Eastern Shore next week to test new rocket technologies.

NASA originally planned to launch the Terrier-Improved Orion suborbital sounding rocket from Wallops between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. Wednesday. The new launch date is Thursday, Sept. 15 "at the earliest," an e-mail message from Wallops Public Affairs Specialist Rebecca H. Powell said Friday.

Powell's message gave no reason for the delay.

The mission includes the third test of the rocket's primary payload, NASA's Autonomous Flight Safety System. The onboard system is designed to issue a destruct signal if a launch flight deviates from its path.

The rocket will carry two additional payloads. The first is a NASA package of seven sensors to observe the rocket's performance.

The third payload is a Federal Aviation Administration payload designed to inform aircraft and air traffic control systems of the in-flight location and velocity of launch vehicles that could pose a collision hazard to aircraft.

The launch can be viewed from the facility's visitor center, which will be open at 7 a.m. on launch day.

The launch will be web cast beginning at 7 a.m. on launch day at: http://sites.wff.nasa.gov/webcast

Launch status can be followed on Twitter at:
http://www.Twitter.com/NASA_Wallops

Launch status also is available at the Wallops launch status line at (757) 824-2050.

For more information about Wallops Flight Facility and its missions, visit http://www.nasa.gov/wallops

www.wboc.com

NASA Rocket Launch A Success

WALLOPS ISLAND, Va. (WAVY) - The NASA Black Brant X sounding rocket successfully launched from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on the Eastern Shore Wednesday.

The rocket launched at 5:15 a.m. It's mission, according to NASA, was to "flight qualify the new production Nihka rocket motor, the third stage in the Black Brant X."

The next mission from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility is expected no ealier than August 23.

To view rocket launch from NASA click below.

NASA - NASA Sounding Rocket Launched August 4

www.wavy.com

Highest Environmental Honor Awarded To Wallops

WALLOPS ISLAND --NASA's Wallops Flight Facility has been awarded the highest environmental recognition within the Commonwealth of Virginia for programs protecting the area's natural resources.

Wallops is only the second federal facility in the Commonwealth of Virginia to receive this Extraordinary Environ-mental Enterprise level of the Virginia Environment-al Excellence Program.

"VEEP E4 status is the highest level of environmental recognition in the commonwealth. Wallops joins an elite group which not only strives for environmental excellence within their own missions, but also reaches beyond their facility fence line in proactively working with community partners to promote environmental stewardship," said Carolyn Turner, Wallops head of the Environmental Office.

The facility is currently pursuing renewable energy sources, alternative fuels, and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certifications for existing buildings. The Wallops Environmental office also specializes in pollution prevention, hazardous waste management, protecting endangered species, recycling, storage tank management and environmental planning.

These programs are managed through the Wallops environmental management system, a process aimed at reducing the facility's impacts on the environment by identifying impacts, setting goals to minimize those impacts, improving procedures and tracking progress.

VEEP is a partnership program that has a goal of a more sustainable Virginia. The program is aimed at improving environmental performance and stewardship through a beyond-compliance collaboration with the Department of Environmental Quality.

The award program has stepped levels. The higher the level, the more advanced the facility's environmental program. To be awarded the Extraordinary Environ-mental Enterprise award, a facility must display a commitment to the highest environmental performance.

Some of the requirements for a facility to receive this award include a fully implemented environmental management system including a pollution program, community involvement, and continuous and sustainable progress. Another main component is maintaining a record of sustained compliance.

Sustained compliance requires that the facility be in good standing with the federal and state regulations. It also requires the facility to have less than two environmental violations in the previous three years. Wallops has had no violations.

"Wallops Flight Facility is always striving for environmental excellence," Turner said.

www.easternshorenews.com

Rocket Launch A Success

College students are looking forward to studying their experiments being carried in a suborbital rocket launched from Virginia's Eastern Shore.

The Terrier-Orion suborbital sounding rocket launched Thursday morning from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility. The rocket was estimated to be traveling more than 2,650 miles per hour less than a minute into the launch.

The rocket carried 11 experiments that were developed in part with a weeklong workshop on how to build small experiments for launch aboard suborbital rockets.

A boat was to travel more than 40 miles from shore later Thursday to retrieve the rocket from the water. The students whose experiments were on board will have them returned for study.

www.shoredailynews.com

Support For Wallops From NASA

NASA is increasing its support of the Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia's Eastern Shore.

The space agency said the support contract with the Virginia Space Flight Authority has a potential value of approximately $43 million through May 2014.

The investment is part of an effort to enhance the Atlantic center to successfully launch small and medium class orbital missions for NASA, as well as other federal organizations and commercial launch providers.

Launches are planned in 2011 and 2012 at Wallops.



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