Antares A-ONE
{{Short description|2013 American test spaceflight}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = Antares A-ONE
| names_list = Simulated Cygnus Payload{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2013-016D|title=Display: Simulated Cygnus Payload 2013-016D|publisher=NASA|date=27 April 2021|access-date=25 May 2021}} {{PD-notice}}
| image = Antares Rocket Launches.jpg
| image_caption = The Antares 110 lifts off at the start of the mission
| mission_type = Flight test
| operator = Orbital Sciences Corporation
| mission_duration = {{time interval|21 April 2013, 21:00:00|10 May 2013 00:57|show=dhm|sep=,}}
| spacecraft = Cygnus mass simulator
| manufacturer = Orbital Sciences Corporation
| launch_mass = {{cvt|3800|kg}}
| dimensions = {{cvt|5.061 x 2.896|m}}
| launch_date = {{Start date text|21 April 2013, 21:00:00|timezone=yes}}{{nbsp}}UTC (5:00{{nbsp}}pm{{nbsp}}EDT){{cite web|url=http://www.spaceflight101live.com/live-antares-a-one-mission.html|title=Antares A-ONE Mission Coverage|publisher=Spaceflight101|date=21 April 2013|access-date=6 January 2016|archive-date=15 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215224940/http://www.spaceflight101live.com/live-antares-a-one-mission.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/antares/demo/status.html|title=Antares A-One Mission Status Center |publisher=Spaceflight Now|last=Clark|first=Stephen|date=20 April 2013|access-date=20 April 2013}}
| launch_rocket = Antares 110{{cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/02/orbital-upbeat-ahead-of-antares-debut/|title=Space industry giants Orbital upbeat ahead of Antares debut|publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com|last=Bergin|first=Chris|date=22 February 2012|access-date=29 March 2012}}
| disposal_type = Deorbited
| decay_date = {{End date text|10 May 2013, 00:57|timezone=yes}}{{nbsp}}UTC{{Cite web |last=McDowell |first=Jonathan C. |author-link=Jonathan McDowell |date=5 August 2024 |title=General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects |url=https://www.planet4589.org/space/gcat/data/cat/satcat.html |access-date=6 August 2024 |website=planet4589.org}}
| orbit_reference = Geocentric orbit{{cite web|url=https://news.northropgrumman.com/news/releases/orbital-sciences-corporation-orbital-successfully-launches-first-antares-rocket|title=Orbital Sciences successfully launches first Antares rocket|publisher=Northrop Grumman|date=21 April 2013|access-date=25 May 2021}}
| orbit_regime = Low Earth orbit
| orbit_periapsis = {{cvt|223|km}}
| orbit_apoapsis = {{cvt|237|km}}
| apsis = gee
| insignia = Antares A-ONE mission emblem.png
| insignia_caption = Orbital Sciences insignia
| programme = Commercial Orbital Transportation Services
| previous_mission = SpaceX COTS Demo 2
| next_mission = Cygnus Orb-D1
}}
Antares A-ONE mission was the maiden flight of Orbital Sciences Corporation' Antares launch vehicle including the ascent to space and accurate delivery of a simulated payload, the Cygnus Mass Simulator (CMS), which was launched 21 April 2013. It was launched from Pad 0A at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS), Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia. The simulated payload simulates the mass of the Cygnus cargo spacecraft. This dummy payload was sent into an orbit of {{cvt|223x 237|km}} with an orbital inclination of 51.63°, the same launch profile it will use for Orbital's Cygnus cargo supply missions to the International Space Station (ISS) for NASA.
This launch along with several other activities leading up to it, are paid milestones under NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program.{{cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/543091main_NNJ08TA32S-Amendment%207.pdf|title=Space Act Agreement Amendment Seven between NASA and Orbital Sciences Corporation for COTS|publisher=NASA|date=30 March 2011|access-date=25 May 2021}} {{PD-notice}}
Primary payload
The primary payload was the Cygnus Mass Simulator. It had a height of {{cvt|5.061|m}}, a diameter of {{cvt|2.896|m}} and a mass of {{cvt|3800|kg}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.orbital.com/Antares-Cygnus/files/Pre-Launch-Guest-Briefing.pdf|title=Antares Test Launch "A-ONE Mission" Overview Briefing|publisher=Orbital Sciences|date=17 April 2013|access-date=18 April 2013}} It was equipped with 22 accelerometers, 2 microphones, 12 digital thermometers, 24 thermocouples and 12 strain gages.
Secondary payloads
Four Spaceflight Industries Inc. CubeSat nanosatellites were deployed from the dummy payload.{{cite web|url=http://www.newspacewatch.com/articles/spaceflight-services-installs-four-nanosats-on-antares-rocket.html|title=Spaceflight Services installs four nanosats on Antares rocket|publisher=NewSpace Watch|last=Lindsey|first=Clark|date=21 March 2013|access-date=21 March 2013|url-access=subscription|archive-date=20 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520104800/http://www.newspacewatch.com/articles/spaceflight-services-installs-four-nanosats-on-antares-rocket.html|url-status=dead}}
The secondary payloads were four CubeSats that were deployed from the CMS. Three of them were PhoneSats, 1U CubeSats built by NASA's Ames Research Center. These were named Alexander, Graham and Bell, after the Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone. The purpose of these three satellites was to demonstrate the use of smartphones as avionics in CubeSats. They each had a mass of {{cvt|1124|kg}} and were powered by lithium batteries. The fourth nanosat was a 3U CubeSat, called Dove-1, built by Cosmogia Inc. It carried a "technology development Earth imagery experiment" using the Earth's magnetic field for attitude control.{{cite web |url=https://apps.fcc.gov/els/GetAtt.html?id=122025&x=|title=Cosmogia Dove-1 Orbital Debris Assessment Report|publisher=FCC|date=6 January 2012|access-date=25 May 2021}} {{PD-notice}}
Mission timeline
- Lift off of the Antares launch vehicle occurs two seconds after the first stage engines are ignited
- The first stage engines shut off 228 seconds after lift-off
- At 233 seconds, the first stage separates from the second
- At 317 seconds, the payload fairing is jettisoned
- At 326 seconds, the second stage's engine is ignited
- At 481 seconds, the second stage is shut off
- At 601 seconds, the Cygnus Mass Simulator separates
= Launch attempt summary =
Note: Times are local to the launch site (Eastern Daylight Time).
{{LaunchAttempt
| date1 = 17 April 2013, 17:00:00
| result1 = Scrubbed
| reason1 = Technical
| decision_date1 = 2013-04-17 16:44
| decision_clock1 = −12:00
| notes1 = Premature disconnect of upper stage umbilical cable during T−12:00 hold.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/OrbitalSciences/status/324659214272315394|title=The umbilical was a data cable connected...|work=Twitter|author=Orbital Sciences|date=17 April 2013}}
| date2 = 20 April 2013, 18:10
| result2 = Scrubbed
| reason2 = Weather
| decision_date2 = 2013-04-20 16:30
| decision_clock2 =
| weathergo2 = 90
| date3 = 2013-04-21 17:00
| result3 = Success
| weathergo3 = 80
| notes3 = First flight of Antares.{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/antares-rocket-climbs-into-space-on-maiden-flight/|title=Antares rocket climbs into space on maiden flight |publisher=CBS News|first=William|last=Harwood|date=21 April 2013}}
}}
Gallery
{{Gallery|Cygnus mass simulator - side view.png|Cygnus mass simulator|Antares 110 rocket for A-ONE mission.jpg|Integrated Antares rocket|Antares Rocket Launch (8674655959).jpg|Launch of A-ONE|Antares Rocket Test Launch.jpg|Antares in flight|title=Antares A-ONE|align=center|footer=|style=text-align:center;|mode=packed|alt1=|alt2=|alt3=|alt4=|alt5=|alt6=|alt7=}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Antares A-ONE}}
- [http://www.orbital.com/Antares-Cygnus/files/Pre-Launch-Guest-Briefing.pdf Antares Pre-Launch "A-ONE Mission" Briefing]
- [http://www.orbital.com/Antares-Cygnus/files/AONE-Mission-Overview.pdf Antares A-One Mission Overview]
- [http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/missions/antares.html NASA WFF mission page]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHQFpYHmbOE Video of Pre-Flight Press Conference - Part 1 - YouTube (NASA TV)]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RXmxLGS-jA Video of Pre-Flight Press Conference - Part 2 - YouTube (NASA TV)]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJSn2hxzbnU Video of Antares A-One being rolled out to launch pad - YouTube (NASA TV)]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3L7crGudVU Video of the launch of the Antares A-One Mission - YouTube (NASA TV)]
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