After being delayed by weather at the launch site, and then by weather in space (a solar flare caused concerns that the launch vehicle’s avionics might be damaged) the latest Antares launch (this time using the 120 version) finally flew on 1807 GMT on 7 January from the Wallops Island launch site in Virginia, USA. Aboard the launch was the first official cargo flight by the Orbital Sciences Cygnus cargo craft since its maiden docking test with the International Space Station which occurred in October last year. Apart from the Cygnus – Orb 1 mission, the launch vehicle also carried a “Flock” of 28 3kg Dove Earth observation 3U cubesats into low Earth orbit (LEO) flown for Planet Labs Inc and four other spacecraft. The cubesat satellites are to be released from the International Space Station.
Antares 120 launch vehicle successfully lofts Cygnus cargo craft plus a Flock of Dove satellites (Corrected)
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