Orbital Sciences renames Taurus II rocket "Antares"
Posted: Tue, Dec 13, 2011, 7:24 AM ET (1224 GMT)
Orbital Sciences Corporation announced Monday that it is renaming the Taurus II rocket it is developing to launch cargo missions to the ISS to "Antares". Company officials explained that a rocket the "scale and significance" of the Taurus II, the largest rocket developed by the company, deserved its own name. The name change also avoids any confusion with the different, smaller Taurus XL rocket, which suffered failures in its last two launch attempts. Antares will initially be used to launch Cygnus cargo spacecraft to the ISS under a contract with NASA, although the company seeks to use the rocket for other medium-class payloads as well. The first Antares launch, a demonstration mission, is planned for early 2012.
Orbital Sciences Corporation announced Monday that it is renaming the Taurus II rocket it is developing to launch cargo missions to the ISS to "Antares". Company officials explained that a rocket the "scale and significance" of the Taurus II, the largest rocket developed by the company, deserved its own name. The name change also avoids any confusion with the different, smaller Taurus XL rocket, which suffered failures in its last two launch attempts. Antares will initially be used to launch Cygnus cargo spacecraft to the ISS under a contract with NASA, although the company seeks to use the rocket for other medium-class payloads as well. The first Antares launch, a demonstration mission, is planned for early 2012.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, January 15
ESA hosts China's space leaders
ESA — 5:02 am ET (1002 GMT) Starlink reportedly made free in Iran - but protesters are taking huge risks by using it
BBC — 5:02 am ET (1002 GMT) Volunteer firefighters, councils paying for Starlink connections as poor mobile reception continues across WA
Australian Broadcasting Corporation — 4:59 am ET (0959 GMT) How Iran jammed Starlink (and how Iranians are trying to get around it)
France 24 — 4:59 am ET (0959 GMT) France explores sending Eutelsat terminals to Iran amid internet blackout
Reuters — 4:57 am ET (0957 GMT) |
