Space Station Supplies Launched From Virginia, 2nd Shipment From Wallops Island in 2 Days
The Antares rocket launch was visible from Washington, D.C. and other areas along the east coast
By Marcia Dunn ••
After being postponed two days due to weather NASA launched a load of supplies to the International Space Station Saturday morning on a Northrop Grumman Antares rocket. (Video Courtesy of NASA TV)
A load of space station supplies rocketed into orbit from Virginia on Saturday, the second shipment in two days.
Northrop Grumman launched its Antares rocket from Wallops Island before dawn, delighting chilly early-bird observers along the Atlantic coast. The Russian Space Agency launched its own load of supplies to the International Space Station on Friday, just 15 hours earlier.
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WALLOPS ISLAND, VA - NOVEMBER 17: The Northrop Grumman Antares rocket, with Cygnus resupply spacecraft onboard, launches from Pad-0A at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on November 17, 2018 in Virginia. Northrop Grumman's 10th contracted cargo resupply mission for NASA to the International Space Station will deliver about 7,400 pounds of science and research, crew supplies and vehicle hardware to the orbital laboratory and its crew. (Photo by Joel Kowsky/NASA via Getty Images)
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The Northrop Grumman Antares rocket, with Cygnus resupply spacecraft onboard is seen above the Thomas Jefferson Memorial in this long exposure as it launches from Pad-0A at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on November 17, 2018 in Virginia. Northrop Grumman's 10th contracted cargo resupply mission for NASA to the International Space Station will deliver about 7,400 pounds of science and research, crew supplies and vehicle hardware to the orbital laboratory and its crew. (Photo by Joel Kowsky/NASA via Getty Images)
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A bald eagle is seen atop a lightning tower next to the Northrop Grumman Antares rocket with, Cygnus spacecraft onboard, at Pad-0A, on November 14, 2018 in Virginia. Northrop Grumman's 10th contracted cargo resupply mission for NASA to the International Space Station will deliver about 7,500 pounds of science and research, crew supplies and vehicle hardware to the orbital laboratory and its crew. Launch is scheduled for Nov. 15 at 4:49 a.m. EST. (Photo by Joel Kowsky/NASA via Getty Images)
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The Northrop Grumman Antares rocket, with Cygnus resupply spacecraft onboard, is seen on Pad-0A, on November 14, 2018 in Virginia. Northrop Grumman's 10th contracted cargo resupply mission for NASA to the International Space Station will deliver about 7,500 pounds of science and research, crew supplies and vehicle hardware to the orbital laboratory and its crew. Launch was originally scheduled for Nov. 15 at 4:49 a.m., but that date was rescheduled due to bad weather. (Photo by Joel Kowsky/NASA via Getty Images)
NASA via Getty Images
In this handout image supplied by NASA, the Northrop Grumman Antares rocket, with Cygnus resupply spacecraft onboard, is seen on Pad-0A, November 16, 2018 at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Northrop Grumman's 10th contracted cargo resupply mission for NASA to the International Space Station will deliver about 7,400 pounds of science and research, crew supplies and vehicle hardware to the orbital laboratory and its crew. (Photo by Joel Kowsky/NASA via Getty Images)
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The public was invited to visit a Wallops Island viewing area and see the launch in-person. (Photo by Joel Kowsky/NASA via Getty Images)
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(Photo by Joel Kowsky/NASA via Getty Images)
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The Northrop Grumman Antares rocket, with Cygnus resupply spacecraft onboard, launches from Pad-0A at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on November 17, 2018 in Virginia. (Photo by Joel Kowsky/NASA via Getty Images)
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(Photo by Joel Kowsky/NASA via Getty Images)
NASA via Getty Images
Rehydratable turkey dinners for Thanksgiving are already on board the Space Station, the Associated Press reported. (Photo by Joel Kowsky/NASA via Getty Images)
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The rocket is set to deliver scientific equipment and treats including ice cream and fresh fruit, the Associated Press reported. (Photo by Joel Kowsky/NASA via Getty Images)
NASA via Getty Images
WALLOPS ISLAND, VA - NOVEMBER 12: A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket is seen as it is rolled from the Horizontal Integration Facility (HIF) to Pad-0A, at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on November 12, 2018 in Virginia. Northrop Grumman's 10th contracted cargo resupply mission for NASA to the International Space Station will deliver about 7,500 pounds of science and research, crew supplies and vehicle hardware to the orbital laboratory and its crew. (Photo by Joel Kowsky /NASA via Getty Images)
The U.S. delivery will arrive at the orbiting lab Monday, a day after the Russian shipment. Among the 7,400 pounds of goods inside the Cygnus capsule: ice cream and fresh fruit for the three space station residents, and a 3D printer that recycles old plastic into new parts.
Thanksgiving turkey dinners — rehydratable, of course — are already aboard the 250-mile-high outpost. The space station is currently home to an American, German and Russian.
The launch was originally scheduled for Thursday but was rescheduled due to bad weather. NASA officials said conditions Saturday were clear, and a bright light from the launch could be seen as far away as D.C.
It's a crystal clear night here in Virginia. In just 30 minutes, Cygnus will launch from Pad-0A, seemingly joining the thousands of stars visible in tonight's night sky ✨ Watch the launch live: https://t.co/QmpTC85QY3. pic.twitter.com/wG9tY3gYnc
There's another big event coming up, up there: The space station marks its 20th year in orbit on Tuesday. The first section launched on Nov. 20, 1998, from Kazakhstan.
This Cygnus, or Swan, is named the S.S. John Young to honor the legendary astronaut who walked on the moon and commanded the first space shuttle flight. He died in January.
It is the first commercial cargo ship to bear Northrop Grumman's name. Northrop Grumman acquired Orbital ATK in June. SpaceX is NASA's other commercial shipper for the space station.
Experiments also are going up to observe how cement solidifies in weightlessness, among other things. There's also medical, spacesuit and other equipment to replace items that never made it to orbit last month because of a Russian rocket failure; the two men who were riding the rocket survived their emergency landing. Three other astronauts are set to launch from Kazakhstan on Dec. 3.
