NASA: Safety Is Prime for Today's Launch of Antares

NASA is preparing for the launch of Orbital's Antares™ A-ONE Test Flight Mission scheduled for today at 5pm. I was a guest of NASA this week and toured the facility including the launch pad. Safety is prime for NASA and its corporate affiliates like Orbital.

Launching a space mission is a complex and massive operation. The balancing of public and mission safety concerns is extremely important. Besides the ordinary employee safety issues such as: hearing and eye protection, radio transmission frequency triggers and fire, NASA must identify and protect the public.

Unlike some other nations, the US launches its rockets near the ocean, and strictly monitors their trajectory. Any deviation from the planned flight path, ie. jeopardizing public safety, would result in the the destruction of the rocket over an isolated over-water area.

Today's planned launch will be televised on NASA TV and cane be viewed from a large area on the US Mid-Atlantic seacoast. 

NASA TV Launch Coverage
For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to streaming video, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For more information about the Antares test flight, visit:http://www.orbital.com/Antares-Cygnus/files/AONE-Mission-Overview.pdf

NASA Web Prelaunch and Launch Coverage
Prelaunch and launch day coverage of the mission will be available on the NASA website. Coverage will include live streaming and text updates beginning at 3:30 p.m. as the countdown milestones occur. Photos and video of the launch will be available shortly after liftoff. You can follow launch coverage on our multiple NASA social media sites at: http://www.nasa.gov/connect

Related articles

• Even The Antares™ Rocket Engines Can Be Reused
• New Private Rocket's Maiden Launch Set for Saturday
• Watch Live: First Launch of Antares Rocket
• How to Spot the Antares Launch from NASA Wallops on Wednesday