Orbital's Antares rocket suffered a catastrophic launch failure Oct. 28, 2014, at Wallops Island while performing a Cargo Resupply Services (CRS) mission for NASA. Photo: NASA.
By Pat Host |
9 years ago |
12/09/2014

Orbital Sciences [ORB] said Tuesday it contracted with United Launch Alliance

(ULA) for an Atlas V launch in the fourth quarter of 2015 with an option for a second Atlas V launch in 2016 if needed to fulfill its duties for NASA’s Cargo Resupply Service (CRS) program.

These plans are expected to allow Orbital to accomplish all remaining cargo deliveries by the end of 2016 with no cost increase to NASA, according to a company statement. CRS is to deliver cargo to the International Space Station (ISS) and back to earth.

Orbital's Antares rocket suffered a catastrophic launch failure Oct. 28 at Wallops Island while performing a Cargo Resupply Services (CRS) mission for NASA. Photo: NASA.
Orbital’s Antares rocket suffered a catastrophic launch failure Oct. 28 at Wallops Island while performing a Cargo Resupply Services (CRS) mission for NASA. Photo: NASA.

Orbital also said it confirmed its ability to accelerate the introduction of a new main propulsion system for the Antares rocket and has scheduled three additional CRS launches in the first, second and fourth quarters of 2016 using the upgraded vehicle. The first new propulsion systems are expected to arrive at the Antares final assembly facility at Wallops Island, Va., in mid-2015 to begin vehicle integration and testing.

Orbital expects repairs to the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS), also in Wallops Island, Va., to be “substantially” completed by the fall of 2015, with recertification for launches taking place before the end of 2015. The failure of an Antares rocket at MARS in October caused significant damage to the launch pad (Defense Daily, Oct. 28).

ULA is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin [LMT] and Boeing [BA].