Northrop Grumman’s Antares 230+ rocket conveying the Cygnus Shuttle S.S. Shrub Clark effectively sent off from the Mid-Atlantic Provincial Spaceport (MARS) on August 1, 2023. The NG-19 mission will convey in excess of 8,200 lbs. of exploration tests, supplies, and vehicle equipment to the Global Space Station (ISS). This send off marks 10 years of Antares rocket dispatches from MARS, and the last send off of the Antares 230+ rocket. Recently, Northrop Grumman reported an organization with Firefly Aviation to plan and construct the following emphasis of the Antares send off vehicle with solely U.S.- fabricated parts.
“It’s a distinction to have worked with Northrop Grumman and NASA for ISS resupply missions,” said the Virginia Spaceport Authority’s President, Ted Mercer. ” Thank you for all of your hard work supporting the ISS astronauts, and congratulations to everyone who participated in these missions over the past ten years.
The Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) on Wallops Island on Virginia’s Eastern Shore is owned and operated by the Virginia Spaceport Authority. MARS offers three platforms, an Automated Flying Frameworks (UAS) Landing strip, the most up to date Payload Handling Office (PPF) in the US, and a Combination and Control Office (ICF) to address client issues for send off, range testing, and exploration. The spaceport is FAA authorized for vertical send-offs to circle and leads business with NASA through a Space Act Understanding and IDIQ contract.
