The NASA Wallops Flight Facility and Virginia’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport are set to support the launch of Orbital ATK’s Antares rocket at 8:03 p.m. EDT, Oct. 16.
The Antares rocket will carry Orbital ATK’s Cygnus cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station.
The launch may be visible, weather permitting, to residents throughout the east coast of the United States.
Public viewing of the launch will be available at the NASA Visitor Center at Wallops and Robert Reed Park on Chincoteague Island or Beach Road spanning the area between Chincoteague and Assateague Islands. Assateague Island National Seashore/Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia will not be open for viewing the launch.
Visitors are reminded that alcohol, pets and firearms are not allowed on the NASA Visitor Center grounds.
For more information about the Visitor Center, including directions, see: https://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/visitorcenter
Live coverage of the mission is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. Oct. 16 on the Wallops Ustream site at: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-tv-wallops
Launch updates will be available via the Wallops Facebook and Twitter sites:
www.facebook.com/NASAWFF
www.twitter.com/NASA_Wallops
Smartphone users can download the “What’s Up at Wallops” app, which contains information on the launch as well as a compass showing the precise direction for launch viewing. The app is available for download to both Android and iOS users.
Launch coverage on NASA TV will begin at 7:00 p.m. EDT. For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and scheduling information, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/nasatv
For more information about International Space Station, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/station
Get more information about Orbital ATK, its Antares rocket and the Cygnus cargo spacecraft at: https://www.nasa.gov/orbital
By Keith Koehler
NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, Va.