Skip to content
79,433 pages · 13,741 images · since 1994 Browse A–Z Today in space history
Encyclopedia Astronautica The full story of spaceflight
Encyclopedia entry

Antares 230

Launch vehicle · USA

FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS TOPIC AT OUR PARTNER SITE

Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.

American orbital launch vehicle. Pad-launched launch vehicle using Pegasus upper stages and a first stage combining a Ukrainian Zenit lower stage fitted with RD-181 lox/kerosene engines in place of NK-33 engines disastorously used in the earlier versions.

2 stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Antares 2 Stage 1 + 1 x Castor 30XL.

LEO Payload: 4,500 kg (9,900 lb) to a 350 km orbit at 51.60 degrees. Payload: 1,400 kg (3,000 lb) to a geosynchronous transfer orbit.

More at: Antares 230.

Country
USA
Engines
NK-33
Agency
NASA, OSC

Chronology

6 events

2016 October 17

23:45 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: Wallops Island LA0A. Launch Pad: Wallops MARS 0A. LV Family: Antares LV. Launch Vehicle: Antares 230.
  • SS Alan Poindexter - . Payload: Cygnus OA-6. Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Manufacturer: OSC. Program: ISS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned logistics spacecraft. Spacecraft: Cygnus. Decay Date: 2016-11-28 . USAF Sat Cat: 41818 . COSPAR: 2016-062A. Apogee: 395 km (245 mi). Perigee: 373 km (231 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg.

    Orbital ATK Cygnus cargo ship, the SS Alan Poindexter, was launched on mission OA-5. The launch was the first flight of the Antares 230 rocket, featuring a first stage with two Energomash RD-181 engines replacing the Kuznetsov/Aerojet AJ-26 engines used on earlier Antares missions (which were implicated in the Oct 2014 Antares 130 failure), and a second stage with the Castor 30XL solid motor. The Castor 30XL was on the previous Antares launch but didn't get a chance to fire because of the first stage failure, so this was its first real test. In the event the rocket performed above specification and the mission reached a higher-than-planned 209 x 351 km orbit. OA-5 reached the ISS on Oct 23; it was grappled by the SSRMS at 1128 UTC and berthed to the nadir port of the Unity module at 1453 UTC. Cygnus OA-5 carried 2345 kg of pressurized cargo, and the external Nanoracks deployer with four Spire Global Lemur-2 cubesats.Cygnus cargo vehicle SS Alan Poindexter (OA-5) was unberthed from the Unity module at about 1125 UTC Nov 21 and released into space at 1322 UTC. It raised its orbit on Nov 25 to 495 x 504 km and released two pairs of Spire Global cubesats in the Lemur-2 series. Cygnus was deorbited on Nov 27, reentering over the S Pacific at 2336 UTC.

2017 November 12

12:18 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: Wallops Island Pad 0A. LV Family: Antares LV. Launch Vehicle: Antares 230.
  • SS Gene Cernan - . Payload: Cygnus PCM-8; CYGNUS 0A-8. Nation: USA. USAF Sat Cat: 43006 . COSPAR: 2017-071A. Apogee: 393 km (244 mi). Perigee: 373 km (231 mi). Inclination: 51.64 deg. Period: 92.22 min. See Cygnus CRS-8 (OA 8E, SS Gene Cernan). ..
  • Lemur-2-RocketJonah - . Payload: Lemur-2-54; LEMUR 2 ROCKETJONAH. Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Cubesat. USAF Sat Cat: 43041 . COSPAR: 2017-071E. Apogee: 440 km (270 mi). Perigee: 440 km (270 mi). Inclination: 51.64 deg. Period: 93.38 min. See Lemur-2 54 (Lemur-2 RocketJonah) ↑. ..
  • Aerocube 7B - . Payload: OCSD B. Nation: USA. USAF Sat Cat: 43042 . COSPAR: 2017-071F. Apogee: 449 km (278 mi). Perigee: 442 km (274 mi). Inclination: 51.64 deg. Period: 93.49 min. See OCSD B (AeroCube 7B) ↑. ..
  • Aerocube 7C - . Payload: OCSD C. Nation: USA. USAF Sat Cat: 43043 . COSPAR: 2017-071G. Apogee: 449 km (278 mi). Perigee: 442 km (274 mi). Inclination: 51.64 deg. Period: 93.49 min. See OCSD C (AeroCube 7C) ↑. ..
  • CHEFsat - . Nation: USA. USAF Sat Cat: 43044 . COSPAR: 2017-071H. Apogee: 443 km (275 mi). Perigee: 436 km (270 mi). Inclination: 51.64 deg. Period: 93.37 min. See CHEFsat ↑. ..
  • Lemur-2-YongLin - . Payload: Lemur-2-50; LEMUR 2 YONGLIN. Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Cubesat. USAF Sat Cat: 43045 . COSPAR: 2017-071J. Apogee: 441 km (274 mi). Perigee: 435 km (270 mi). Inclination: 51.64 deg. Period: 93.34 min. See Lemur-2 50 (Lemur-2 YongLin) ↑. ..
  • Lemur-2-Kevin - . Payload: Lemur-2-51; LEMUR 2 KEVIN. Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Cubesat. USAF Sat Cat: 43046 . COSPAR: 2017-071K. Apogee: 443 km (275 mi). Perigee: 438 km (272 mi). Inclination: 51.64 deg. Period: 93.39 min. See Lemur-2 51 (Lemur-2 Kevin) ↑. ..
  • Lemur-2-BrianDavie - . Payload: Lemur-2-52; LEMUR 2 BRIANDAVIE. Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Cubesat. USAF Sat Cat: 43047 . COSPAR: 2017-071L. Apogee: 443 km (275 mi). Perigee: 438 km (272 mi). Inclination: 51.64 deg. Period: 93.40 min. See Lemur-2 52 (Lemur-2 BrianDavie) ↑. ..
  • Lemur-2-RomaCoste - . Payload: Lemur-2-53; LEMUR 2 ROMACOSTE. Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Cubesat. USAF Sat Cat: 43048 . COSPAR: 2017-071M. Apogee: 442 km (274 mi). Perigee: 437 km (271 mi). Inclination: 51.64 deg. Period: 93.37 min. See Lemur-2 53 (Lemur-2 RomaCoste) ↑. ..
  • Asgardia 1 - . Nation: USA. USAF Sat Cat: 43049 . COSPAR: 2017-071N. Apogee: 447 km (277 mi). Perigee: 443 km (275 mi). Inclination: 51.64 deg. Period: 93.48 min. See Asgardia 1 ↑. ..
  • ISARA - . Nation: USA. USAF Sat Cat: 43050 . COSPAR: 2017-071P. Apogee: 443 km (275 mi). Perigee: 439 km (272 mi). Inclination: 51.64 deg. Period: 93.39 min. See ISARA ↑. ..
  • Lemur-2-McCullagh - . Payload: Lemur-2-56; LEMUR 2 MCCULLAGH. Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Cubesat. USAF Sat Cat: 43051 . COSPAR: 2017-071Q. Apogee: 440 km (270 mi). Perigee: 439 km (272 mi). Inclination: 51.64 deg. Period: 93.37 min. See Lemur-2 56 (Lemur-2 McCullagh) ↑. ..
  • PropCube Fauna - . Payload: PropCube-2; FAUNA. Nation: USA. USAF Sat Cat: 43052 . COSPAR: 2017-071R. Apogee: 446 km (277 mi). Perigee: 442 km (274 mi). Inclination: 51.64 deg. Period: 93.47 min. See PropCube 2 (Fauna) ↑. ..
  • Lemur-2-Dunlop - . Payload: Lemur-2-57; LEMUR 2 DUNLOP. Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Cubesat. USAF Sat Cat: 43053 . COSPAR: 2017-071S. Apogee: 442 km (274 mi). Perigee: 441 km (274 mi). Inclination: 51.64 deg. Period: 93.41 min. See Lemur-2 57 (Lemur-2 Dunlop) ↑. ..
  • Lemur-2-Liu-Poh-Chun - . Payload: Lemur-2-55; LEMUR 2 LIU-POU-CHUN. Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Cubesat. USAF Sat Cat: 43054 . COSPAR: 2017-071T. Apogee: 440 km (270 mi). Perigee: 440 km (270 mi). Inclination: 51.64 deg. Period: 93.38 min. See Lemur-2 55 (Lemur-2 Liu-Poh-Chun) ↑. ..

2017 November 12

12:18 GMT - . Launch Platform: ISS. LV Family: Antares LV. Launch Vehicle: Antares 230.
  • EcAMSat - . Nation: USA. USAF Sat Cat: 43019 . COSPAR: 1998-067NG. Apogee: 392 km (243 mi). Perigee: 386 km (239 mi). Inclination: 51.64 deg. Period: 92.33 min. See EcAMSat ↑. 6U cubesat by Santa Clara University. Mission: Biological research. Status as of 2019: Active..
  • TechEdSat-6 - . Payload: TES-6; TECHEDSAT 6. Nation: USA. USAF Sat Cat: 43026 . COSPAR: 1998-067NK. Apogee: 177 km (109 mi). Perigee: 171 km (106 mi). Inclination: 51.61 deg. Period: 87.97 min. See TechEdSat 6 (TES 6) ↑. ..

2018 May 21

08:43 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: Wallops Island Pad 0A. LV Family: Antares LV. Launch Vehicle: Antares 230.
  • SS J.R. Thompson - . Payload: Cygnus PCM-9; CYGNUS OA-9. Nation: USA. USAF Sat Cat: 43474 . COSPAR: 2018-046A. Apogee: 410 km (250 mi). Perigee: 381 km (236 mi). Inclination: 51.64 deg. Period: 92.47 min. See Cygnus CRS-9 (OA 9E, SS J. R. Thompson). ..
  • Aerocube 12A - . Nation: USA. USAF Sat Cat: 43556 . COSPAR: 2018-046C. Apogee: 487 km (302 mi). Perigee: 475 km (295 mi). Inclination: 51.64 deg. Period: 94.22 min. See AeroCube 12A. ..
  • Aerocube 12B - . Nation: USA. USAF Sat Cat: 43557 . COSPAR: 2018-046D. Apogee: 487 km (302 mi). Perigee: 476 km (295 mi). Inclination: 51.64 deg. Period: 94.23 min. See AeroCube 12B. ..
  • Lemur-2-Alexander - . Payload: Lemur-2-80; LEMUR 2 VU. Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Cubesat. USAF Sat Cat: 43558 . COSPAR: 2018-046E. Apogee: 485 km (301 mi). Perigee: 474 km (294 mi). Inclination: 51.64 deg. Period: 94.20 min. See Lemur-2 80 (Lemur-2 Alexander). ..
  • Lemur-2-Vu - . Payload: Lemur-2-81; LEMUR 2 ALEXANDER. Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Cubesat. USAF Sat Cat: 43559 . COSPAR: 2018-046F. Apogee: 485 km (301 mi). Perigee: 474 km (294 mi). Inclination: 51.64 deg. Period: 94.20 min. See Lemur-2 81 (Lemur-2 Vu). ..
  • Lemur-2-TomHenderson - . Payload: Lemur-2-78; LEMUR 2 YUASA. Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Cubesat. USAF Sat Cat: 43560 . COSPAR: 2018-046G. Apogee: 485 km (301 mi). Perigee: 474 km (294 mi). Inclination: 51.64 deg. Period: 94.20 min. See Lemur-2 78 (Lemur-2 TomHenderson). ..
  • Lemur-2-Yuasa - . Payload: Lemur-2-79; LEMUR 2 TOMHENDERSON. Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Cubesat. USAF Sat Cat: 43561 . COSPAR: 2018-046H. Apogee: 485 km (301 mi). Perigee: 474 km (294 mi). Inclination: 51.64 deg. Period: 94.20 min. See Lemur-2 79 (Lemur-2 Yuasa). ..

2018 May 21

08:43 GMT - . Launch Platform: ISS. LV Family: Antares LV. Launch Vehicle: Antares 230.
  • RainCube - . Nation: USA. USAF Sat Cat: 43546 . COSPAR: 1998-067NU. Apogee: 391 km (242 mi). Perigee: 384 km (238 mi). Inclination: 51.64 deg. Period: 92.31 min. See RainCube ↑. ..
  • HaloSat - . Nation: USA. USAF Sat Cat: 43547 . COSPAR: 1998-067NV. Apogee: 402 km (249 mi). Perigee: 394 km (244 mi). Inclination: 51.64 deg. Period: 92.52 min. See HaloSat ↑. ..
  • Radix - . Nation: USA. USAF Sat Cat: 43548 . COSPAR: 1998-067NW. Apogee: 396 km (246 mi). Perigee: 389 km (241 mi). Inclination: 51.64 deg. Period: 92.41 min. See Radix ↑. ..
  • TEMPEST-D - . Nation: USA. USAF Sat Cat: 43549 . COSPAR: 1998-067NX. Apogee: 396 km (246 mi). Perigee: 389 km (241 mi). Inclination: 51.64 deg. Period: 92.41 min. See TEMPEST-D ↑. ..
  • CubeRRT - . Nation: USA. USAF Sat Cat: 43550 . COSPAR: 1998-067NY. Apogee: 389 km (241 mi). Perigee: 384 km (238 mi). Inclination: 51.64 deg. Period: 92.29 min. See CubeRRT ↑. ..
  • RadSat-g - . Nation: TBD. USAF Sat Cat: 43551 . COSPAR: 1998-067NZ. Apogee: 394 km (244 mi). Perigee: 386 km (239 mi). Inclination: 51.64 deg. Period: 92.36 min. See RadSat-g ↑. ..
  • Equisat - . Nation: USA. USAF Sat Cat: 43552 . COSPAR: 1998-067PA. Apogee: 396 km (246 mi). Perigee: 388 km (241 mi). Inclination: 51.64 deg. Period: 92.39 min.

    See EQUiSat↑. 1U cubesat by Brown University. Mission: Open-source satellite to encourage involvement of students and amateurs in aerospace design. Status as of 2019: Active. Accepted to NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative in 2014. .

  • MemSat - . Nation: USA. USAF Sat Cat: 43553 . COSPAR: 1998-067PB. Apogee: 398 km (247 mi). Perigee: 389 km (241 mi). Inclination: 51.64 deg. Period: 92.43 min. See MemSat ↑. 1U cubesat by Rowan University. Mission: Resiliance of Resistive Memory in Space Conditions..
  • Endurosat One - . Nation: TBD. USAF Sat Cat: 43554 . COSPAR: 1998-067PC. Apogee: 394 km (244 mi). Perigee: 386 km (239 mi). Inclination: 51.64 deg. Period: 92.35 min. See EnduroSat One ↑. ..

2018 November 17

09:01 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: Wallops Island LA0B. LV Family: Antares LV. Launch Vehicle: Antares 230.
  • S.S. John Young - . Nation: USA. Type: Cargo. USAF Sat Cat: 43704 . COSPAR: 2018-092A. Apogee: 411 km (255 mi). Perigee: 404 km (251 mi). Inclination: 51.64 deg. Period: 92.71 min. See Cygnus CRS-10 (NG 10E). ..