Antares Resupply Launch Scheduled Sunday From Wallops

SEE FEB 12 UPDATED POSTING

(WESR/SHORE DAILY NEWS)

Dress warm and step out to view the launch of Northrop Grumman’s Antares rocket at 5:39 p.m. EST, Sunday, February 9, from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility.

The launch may be visible, weather permitting, to residents throughout the mid-Atlantic region and possibly the East Coast of the United States.

This will be Northrop Grumman’s 13th commercial resupply services mission to deliver NASA science investigations, supplies and equipment to the International Space Station

The NASA Visitor Center at Wallops opens at 1:30 p.m. on launch day for public viewing. Additional locations for catching the launch are Robert Reed Park on Chincoteague Island or Beach Road spanning the area between Chincoteague and Assateague Islands. The beach at the Assateague Island National Seashore/Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge will not be open during the launch.

Visitors are reminded that alcohol, pets and firearms are not allowed on the NASA Visitor Center grounds. Also, because of limited parking, over-size vehicles such as campers and recreational vehicles will not be able to park on the Visitor Center grounds.

For more information about the Visitor Center, including directions, see: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/visitorcenter

If you can’t make it to the Wallops area to view the launch you can still partake in the experience through the Wallops Mission Status Center. There you will find information about the mission and links to live countdown audio as well as live video of the launch.   Live coverage of the mission is scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. on the Wallops video and audio Ustream sites.

The Status Center can be reached using a smartphone, computer or tablet using most web browsers. By clicking the tracking link on the Status Center, you can find when you may be able to see the rocket in flight and use your device to find the viewing direction to see the rocket streak across the evening sky.

WESR will also be providing live real time coverage of the launch countdown starting at 5:30 p.m.

Launch updates will be available via the Wallops Facebook and Twitter sites:

Launch coverage on NASA TV will begin at 5 p.m. EST.  For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and scheduling information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv

For more information about International Space Station, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/station

Get more information about Northrop Grumman, its Antares rocket and the Cygnus cargo spacecraft at: http://www.nasa.gov/northropgrumman