Privately Built Antares Test Flight Successfully Launched From Virginia

After high winds (up to 140mph) delayed yesterday's scheduled launch (itself a re-do because of a cabling problem), Orbital Science's Antares rocket has made it to space. This launch was a test run, but Antares is intended to launch supplies to the ISS. Space.com reports: "The third try was the charm for the private Antares rocket, which launched into space from a new pad at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility, its twin engines roaring to life at 5 p.m. EDT (2100 GMT) to carry a mock cargo ship out over the Atlantic Ocean and into orbit. The successful liftoff came after two delays caused by a minor mechanical glitch and bad weather." Congratulations to all involved.

Comments

Re:Horray for Antares

[PopeRatzo]

Congrats for Antares.

Yes, sending a rocket into orbit is a major breakthrough, just like it was half a century ago.

I know it thrills the hearts of the Galtians among us that some billionaires have finally succeeded in solving a puzzle that the rest of us solved collectively in the early 1960s, so I'm going to refrain from saying "big whoop".