Jared: Atlas V / Orbital ATK Cygnus OA-4 CRS-4 Launch

ULA Orbital ATK NASA
December 9, 2015
Jared Haworth

Rain and wind kept the United Launch Alliance Atlas V launch vehicle strapped down to the launch pad a little bit longer than intended, but the Orbital ATK Cygnus cargo freighter was finally lofted to the International Space Station on Sunday, December 6, 2015. Cygnus was the heaviest known (read: unclassified) payload lifted by the Atlas V to date, and used the 401 variant, meaning that no solid rocket boosters were employed. This turned out to be good news for all my lenses, but also meant that the rocket was very slow lifting off the pad, leading to a number of toppled cameras afterwards!

Orbital ATK is still working to return their Antares launch vehicle to operational status following the loss of the CRS-3 mission in October 2014. Currently, United Launch Alliance is contracted to carry one more Cygnus payload to the station, and Orbital ATK is tentatively planning on late May 2016 for a return to flight from Wallops Island.

Photos

Jared: Atlas V / Orbital ATK Cygnus OA-4 CRS-4

December 9, 2015
Jared Haworth
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Jared: Atlas V / Orbital ATK Cygnus OA-4 CRS-4: Atlas V and Vertical Integration Facility Jared: Atlas V / Orbital ATK Cygnus OA-4 CRS-4: Atlas V arrives at the launchpad Jared: Atlas V / Orbital ATK Cygnus OA-4 CRS-4: Space Launch Complex 41 Jared: Atlas V / Orbital ATK Cygnus OA-4 CRS-4: Atlas V has completed its last 1/2 mile journey on the surface of the earth Jared: Atlas V / Orbital ATK Cygnus OA-4 CRS-4: Atlas V on the launchpad Jared: Atlas V / Orbital ATK Cygnus OA-4 CRS-4: Sunset at SLC-41 Jared: Atlas V / Orbital ATK Cygnus OA-4 CRS-4: Only launch vehicles beyond this point Jared: Atlas V / Orbital ATK Cygnus OA-4 CRS-4: Rocket Reflections Jared: Atlas V / Orbital ATK Cygnus OA-4 CRS-4: Vehicle Assembly Building at Twilight Jared: Atlas V / Orbital ATK Cygnus OA-4 CRS-4: SpaceX's LC-39A Hangar and Launchpad Jared: Atlas V / Orbital ATK Cygnus OA-4 CRS-4: LC-39A, Home of the Falcon Heavy Jared: Atlas V / Orbital ATK Cygnus OA-4 CRS-4: LC-39B, Future Home of Space Launch System Jared: Atlas V / Orbital ATK Cygnus OA-4 CRS-4: SLC-41 from the roof of the VAB Jared: Atlas V / Orbital ATK Cygnus OA-4 CRS-4: Atlas V, venting at sunset Jared: Atlas V / Orbital ATK Cygnus OA-4 CRS-4: Atlas V framed by the Crew Access Tower and origami crane at SLC-41 Jared: Atlas V / Orbital ATK Cygnus OA-4 CRS-4: Atlas V Field of Dreams Jared: Atlas V / Orbital ATK Cygnus OA-4 CRS-4: Liquid oxygen venting after replenishment Jared: Atlas V / Orbital ATK Cygnus OA-4 CRS-4: Atlas V Liftoff Jared: Atlas V / Orbital ATK Cygnus OA-4 CRS-4: Atlas V disappears into the clouds Jared: Atlas V / Orbital ATK Cygnus OA-4 CRS-4: Atlas V Liftoff, from the VAB Roof Jared: Atlas V / Orbital ATK Cygnus OA-4 CRS-4: Atlas V Liftoff, from the VAB Roof Jared: Atlas V / Orbital ATK Cygnus OA-4 CRS-4: Atlas V Liftoff, from the VAB Roof Jared: Atlas V / Orbital ATK Cygnus OA-4 CRS-4: Ignition and Liftoff of the Atlas V Jared: Atlas V / Orbital ATK Cygnus OA-4 CRS-4: Orbital ATK Cygnus resupply mission lifting off for the ISS Jared: Atlas V / Orbital ATK Cygnus OA-4 CRS-4: Atlas V 401 Exhasut Flame Jared: Atlas V / Orbital ATK Cygnus OA-4 CRS-4: NPO Energomash RD-180 Main Engine
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Jared: Orbital ATK Antares Media Day at NASA's Wallops Island
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