American Resupply Missions to the Space Station Progressing

Oct. 1, 2012

Rachel Kraft
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
rachel.h.kraft@nasa.gov

RELEASE: M12-342

AMERICAN RESUPPLY MISSIONS TO THE SPACE STATION PROGRESSING

WASHINGTON -- Orbital Sciences Corporation Monday rolled the first
stage of its Antares rocket to the launch pad of the nation's newest
spaceport - the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at Wallops Island,
Va. - while in Florida, Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) moves
ahead with preparations for an Oct. 7 launch to the International
Space Station for NASA's first Commercial Resupply Services (CRS)
mission. These developments mark progress in returning space station
resupply missions to American soil.

With rollout of the Antares rocket, Orbital continues toward a series
of tests at the launch pad that will lead to a planned flight test
later this year. The company also will fly a demonstration mission to
the space station to test both the Antares rocket and Cygnus cargo
spacecraft in the coming months. The milestones will be completed
prior to beginning formal cargo delivery missions to the space
station under NASA's CRS agreement.

Sunday, SpaceX conducted a successful static fire test of its Falcon 9
rocket. The test was part of a full dress rehearsal in preparation
for the first of 12 contracted flights by the company to resupply the
space station following a successful demonstration mission in May.
The Oct. 7 launch is scheduled for 8:35 p.m. EDT from Space Launch
Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

"Today's rollout of Orbital's Antares test vehicle and the upcoming
SpaceX mission are significant milestones in our effort to return
space station resupply activities to the United States and insource
the jobs associated with this important work," said NASA Associate
Administrator for Communications David Weaver. "NASA's commercial
space program is helping to ensure American companies launch our
astronauts and their supplies from U.S. soil."

For more information about the International Space Station, research
in low Earth orbit, NASA's commercial space programs and the future
of American spaceflight, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/exploration

For more information about Orbital, visit:

http://www.orbital.com

For more information about SpaceX, visit:

http://www.spacex.com


-end-



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