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Construction of the MARS facility wasn\u2019t without its teething problems, notably the completion of construction work on the launch pad\u2019s propellant handling and pressurization systems.<\/p>\n
However, it then enjoyed four successful launches of the Antares \u2013 three of which involved the Cygnus spacecraft being lofted to the International Space Station (ISS).<\/p>\n
The CRS-3\/OrB-3 Cygnus was to be the latest mission, as Antares rocketed off the pad once again at the end of October. <\/p>\n
![\"2014-11-05](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/2014-11-05-12_24_05-Antares-Launch-Failure-YouTube-350x235.jpg\")
The launch failed around T+14 seconds, as a \u201cprobable turbopump-related failure\u201d in one of the two Aerojet Rocketdyne AJ-26 main engines resulted in the rocket falling back to the ground.<\/p>\n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/p>\n
The resulting explosion was dramatic, although \u2013 somewhat amazingly \u2013 the facility avoided major damage, despite the rocket impacting very close to the pad from where she had departed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Spaceport was spared severe damage with the Antares rocket returning to earth and impacting just to the north of the launch mount,\u201d noted a new statement from Virginia Space.<\/p>\n
![\"2014-12-09](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/2014-12-09-01_39_57-FAILURE_-Orbitals-Antares_Cygnus-ORB-3-CRS-3-UPDATES-350x213.jpg\")
\u201cA detailed engineering inspection of the Spaceport has been completed and MARS engineering teams continue to refine the cost and work schedule for Pad-0A facility repairs; estimated to be approximately twelve months.\u201d<\/p>\nWhile impacted pad and complex infrastructure will be repaired or replaced, the bulk of the work appears to be based on the environmental impact of the failure, with the main crater of the failed rocket located close to the shoreline next to the pad.<\/p>\n
\u201cNASA, Orbital, and MARS continue successful execution of an environmental remediation plan, including pumping water from the impact crater and sampling. Initial surface water samples indicate no impact to back bays and tributaries,\u201d added Virginia Space\u2019s statement.<\/p>\n
![\"2014-12-09](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/2014-12-09-00_53_27-VIRGINIA-COMMERCIAL-SPACE-FLIGHT-AUTHORITY-SPACEPORT-FACILITY-RECOVERY-AND-RETUR-350x226.jpg\")
\u201cThe environmental team conducted soil sampling in the impact crater and in the area surrounding the launch pad.<\/p>\n\u201cTest results showed the contamination was contained in the area immediately around the crater. This area will require 6\u201d of soil removal for remediation.\u201d<\/p>\n
That work begun over the past few days.<\/p>\n
The area appears to have avoided major environmental damage, with a NASA report noting the Coast Guard and Virginia Marine Resources Commission reported no observed signs of water pollution, such as oil sheens, following patrols of the area after the mishap.<\/p>\n
![\"2014-12-09](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/2014-12-09-01_43_13-FAILURE_-Orbitals-Antares_Cygnus-ORB-3-CRS-3-UPDATES-350x254.jpg\")
The main contaminants in and around the crater was noted as diesel range organic (DRO) \u2013 indicative of RP-1 or highly-refined kerosene, which, along with liquid oxygen, is the propellant for the Antares first stage.<\/p>\nThere was also detection of perchlorate \u2013 which is indicative as coming from the solid-fueled Castor XL Upper Stage.<\/p>\n
\u201cPerchlorate levels in the impact crater measured about 9,000 parts per billion. In the area around the crater, such as the deluge basin, the perchlorate levels were significantly lower, ranging from 8 to 30 parts per billion,\u201d noted the NASA report.<\/p>\n
The report also added that the impact site has a clay layer located about 15 feet beneath ground level, ranging from 15 to 40 feet in thickness, which should keep any contamination from migrating deeper.<\/p>\n
The 12 month repair estimate is aligned with the projected return of the Antares, with the rocket on the books to resume Cygnus missions to the ISS in 2016.<\/p>\n
![\"Z3A\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Z3A.jpg\")
It is known that Orbital is working to secure one \u2013 to two \u2013 flights of the Cygnus on another launch vehicle. It was believed it was likely to be SpaceX\u2019s Falcon 9 v1.1 that would fill the gap. However, Orbital have since confirmed they will purchase ULA\u2019s Atlas V for at least one flight, in order to keep up with its Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) obligations during the interim period.<\/p>\nAccording to Virginia Space, Orbital is planning to hot fire (static fire) the Antares at the end of 2015, marking the company\u2019s return to hosting the rocket at the Wallops facility and the expected to return to launch operations in 2016.<\/p>\n
This test will also mark the debut of Antares in her upgraded configuration, specifically new first stage engines.<\/p>\n
While Orbital has already only noted it is \u201clikely\u201d they will discontinue to use the AJ-26, a stop order has since been put into effect.<\/p>\n
As per the replacement engine, evaluations are taking place on utilizing the RD-193 \u2013 or RD-181 as they are known when labelled under their \u2018\u201dforeign export\u201d designation. However, Orbital is yet to confirm this is the engine of choice.<\/p>\n
(Images: via Orbital, Virginia Space and L2\u2019s Antares\/Cygnus Section).<\/p>\n
(Click here: http:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/l2\/ \u2013 to view how you can support NSF and access the best space flight content on the entire internet).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Repairs to the Antares launch facility at Wallops Flight Facility are expected to be completed within 12 months, in time for the return of the Orbital rocket \u2013 in her upgraded propulsion configuration \u2013 for a hot fire test at the end of 2015. The dramatic failure of the CRS-3\/OrB-3 Antares launch resulted in damage […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29995,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[1871,639,4255],"class_list":["post-39443","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-antares","tag-cygnus","tag-wallops"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39443"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39443"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39443\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29995"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39443"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39443"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39443"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}