Northrop Grumman Cygnus CRS-2 NG-12 (S.S. Alan Bean) Antares 230+
Rocket Launch Video Stream
Weather Forecast During Launch
According to weather officials, there's a 100% chance of favorable weather conditions at the time of the launch.
About the Cygnus CRS-2 NG-12 (S.S. Alan Bean) Mission
| Type | Resupply |
|---|---|
| Orbit | Low Earth Orbit |
This is the 13th planned flight of the Orbital ATK's uncrewed resupply spacecraft Cygnus and its 12th flight to the International Space Station under the Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA.
Launch Pad & Location
Launch Area 0 A
Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA
| Launches | 19 |
|---|---|
| Orbital Launch Attempts | 19 |
| Total Launches | 87 |
Wallops Flight Facility is a rocket launch site on Wallops Island on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, United States, just east of the Delmarva Peninsula and north-northeast of Norfolk. The facility is operated by the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and primarily serves to support science and exploration missions for NASA and other federal agencies. WFF includes an extensively instrumented range to support launches of more than a dozen types of sounding rockets; small expendable suborbital and orbital rockets; high-altitude balloon flights carrying scientific instruments for atmospheric and astronomical research; and, using its Research Airport, flight tests of aeronautical research aircraft, including uncrewed aerial vehicles.
Northrop Grumman Antares 230+ Rocket
Antares known during early development as Taurus II, is an expendable launch system developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation (now part of Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems after Northrop Grumman acquired Orbital ATK) and the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau to launch the Cygnus spacecraft to the International Space Station as part of NASA's COTS and CRS programs. Able to launch payloads heavier than 5,000 kg (11,000 lb) into low-Earth orbit, Antares is the largest rocket operated by Orbital ATK. Antares launches from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport and made its inaugural flight on April 21, 2013.
| Length | 42.5 m |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 3.9 m |
| Stages | 2-3 |
| Launch Mass | 286.0 T |
| Takeoff Thrust | 3,844.0 kN |
| LEO Capacity | 8,200 kg |
| Maiden Flight | 11/2/2019 |
Mission Spacecraft
Cygnus CRS NG-12 (S.S. Alan Bean)
Cygnus CRS NG-12 (S.S. Alan Bean) was the spacecraft used for this mission. It is a Northrop Grumman Cargo Resupply designed for Cargo Earth Orbit Logistics and traveled to International Space Station.
This is the twelfth flight to the ISS by the Cygnus spacecraft under the CRS program and their first under the CRS2 program. This is also the 8th use of the enhanced size Cygnus. The Cygnus spacecraft is launched aboard Antares, Atlas V, or Falcon 9 to deliver cargo to the ISS under NASAs CRS contracts. It has no heatshield so at the end of its mission its used to dispose of waste by burning up in the Earths atmosphere. 1 week to 2 years design life.
| Type | Cargo Resupply |
|---|---|
| Agency | Northrop Grumman |
| Status | Single Use |
| Destination | International Space Station |
| Maiden Flight | 12/6/2015 |
| Mission End | 3/17/2020 |
| Flights | 1 |
| Human Rated | No |
| Height | 6.3 m |
| Diameter | 3.1 m |
| Payload Capacity | 3,750 kg |
About Northrop Grumman
Northrup Grumman Space Systems designs, builds and delivers space, defence and aviation-related systems to customers around the world. They aquired Orbital ATK in 2018 along with its launchers and ongoing missions.
| Total Launches | 17 |
|---|---|
| Successful | 17 |
| Pending | 1 |
| Consecutive Success | 17 |
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the Northrop Grumman Antares 230+ Cygnus CRS-2 NG-12 (S.S. Alan Bean) launch scheduled?
The Northrop Grumman Antares 230+ Cygnus CRS-2 NG-12 (S.S. Alan Bean) launch was scheduled for:
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Where can I watch the Northrop Grumman Antares 230+ Cygnus CRS-2 NG-12 (S.S. Alan Bean) launch video?
You can watch the Northrop Grumman Antares 230+ launch video on this page. The official video includes full mission coverage with multiple camera angles, onboard views, and expert commentary covering pre-launch procedures, liftoff, stage separation, and payload deployment.
Where did the Northrop Grumman Antares 230+ Cygnus CRS-2 NG-12 (S.S. Alan Bean) mission launch from?
The Northrop Grumman Antares 230+ rocket launched from Launch Area 0 A at Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA. Wallops Flight Facility is a rocket launch site on Wallops Island on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, United States, just east of the Delmarva Peninsula and north-northeast of Norfolk. The facility is operated by the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and primarily serves to support science and exploration missions for NASA and other federal agencies. WFF includes an extensively instrumented range to support launches of more than a dozen types of sounding rockets; small expendable suborbital and orbital rockets; high-altitude balloon flights carrying scientific instruments for atmospheric and astronomical research; and, using its Research Airport, flight tests of aeronautical research aircraft, including uncrewed aerial vehicles.
What rocket was used for the Cygnus CRS-2 NG-12 (S.S. Alan Bean) mission?
The Cygnus CRS-2 NG-12 (S.S. Alan Bean) mission launched aboard a Northrop Grumman Antares 230+ rocket. Antares known during early development as Taurus II, is an expendable launch system developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation (now part of Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems after Northrop Grumman acquired Orbital ATK) and the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau to launch the Cygnus spacecraft to the International Space Station as part of NASA's COTS and CRS programs. Able to launch payloads heavier than 5,000 kg (11,000 lb) into low-Earth orbit, Antares is the largest rocket operated by Orbital ATK. Antares launches from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport and made its inaugural flight on April 21, 2013. Detailed rocket specifications and performance data are available in the rocket details above.
What weather conditions could have delayed the Northrop Grumman Antares 230+ Cygnus CRS-2 NG-12 (S.S. Alan Bean) launch?
The Northrop Grumman Antares 230+ Cygnus CRS-2 NG-12 (S.S. Alan Bean) launch could have been delayed by various weather conditions including lightning within 10 nautical miles, high winds (especially upper-level winds), thick cloud layers, precipitation, and poor visibility. Weather must be favorable at the launch site, downrange landing zones, and abort landing sites.
How can I get updates if the Northrop Grumman Antares 230+ Cygnus CRS-2 NG-12 (S.S. Alan Bean) launch was delayed?
This page was updated in real-time with the latest Northrop Grumman Antares 230+ launch status, including any delays or scrubs for the Cygnus CRS-2 NG-12 (S.S. Alan Bean) mission. You can also check our space launch schedule for historical launch information. Our mobile app provides push notifications for instant alerts about launch status changes. Official Northrop Grumman live streams provided the most immediate range updates during the launch window.
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