Prepare to be amazed. Rocket launches are not just a visual spectacle, they are a physical experience. The explosions that propel payloads into space create powerful sound waves that can be felt from over a mile away. I had my first up-close encounter with a launch recently, and let me tell you, it was mind-blowing.
But that was nothing compared to the launch I witnessed on Tuesday. The Antares rocket, powered by two RD-181 engines, roared to life, sending a Cygnus capsule on its way to the International Space Station. The crackling noise was so intense, it reverberated through my chest. The metal bleachers shook in response. It was a truly awe-inspiring moment.
Despite the incredible power on display, this launch was just another routine mission. The rocket performed flawlessly, putting Cygnus on the right trajectory for its rendezvous with the ISS. The only disappointment was the overcast sky, which prevented us from seeing the second stage ignite. But even that couldn’t dampen the excitement of the moment.
However, this launch represents more than just another successful mission. It marks the end of an era. Antares will undergo a major redesign and repowering before returning with all-American hardware. This launch also symbolizes the closing of a chapter in space flight history, where cooperation between the US and Russia was the norm.
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That didn’t last
The Antares booster that soared into space on Tuesday is a symbol of a bygone era. It was a hybrid of American and Russian technology, a testament to the once-promising partnership between the two nations. But that era is long gone.
There was a time when US-Russian cooperation was seen as the future of space travel. Russia offered cheap and reliable access to orbit, while the US had the resources to keep Russian experts employed. It seemed like a perfect match. But today, we see how that dream has crumbled.
The Ukrainian company that built Antares’ first stage is located in a region that has been targeted by Russian missiles. This version of Antares will be the last of its kind, as Northrop Grumman develops a replacement with entirely new engines. The era of cooperation has come to an end.
But this is not the end of US space exploration. There are already enough Russian engines in the US to power the remaining Atlas V launches. However, it’s unlikely that any US company will rely on Russian hardware in the future. American companies like Firefly are developing their own modern engines, eliminating the need for Russian technology.
As for the International Space Station, its days are numbered. NASA is already planning for its eventual retirement. Despite occasional tensions with Russia, the ISS continues to operate with a frosty tolerance. The US has even invited Russia to join its next major crewed project, Artemis, but the offer was declined.
So, while Tuesday’s launch was a success, it also serves as a reminder of what has been lost. Symbolically, it carries a heavy weight. But in terms of performance, it was flawless. The hardware did its job, proving once again the incredible capabilities of space exploration.
The United Launch Alliance (ULA) launched its final Delta IV Heavy rocket from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, concluding an era of human spaceflight. The mission, dubbed ‘Flawless Cygnus’, sent the uncrewed Cygnus spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS) with 3.7 tonnes of payload and supplies.
The Delta IV Heavy rocket family was one of the workhorses of the ULA’s destinations since its debut in 2004. The three-booster heavy-lift launcher has been used throughout its over two decade runs for a variety of missions, ranging from satellite launches to exploration missions such as the Parker Solar Probe.
Of note, the Flawless Cygnus launch was the first operational mission for a space vehicle launched with the ULA’s Advanced Common Evolved Stage (ACES) upper stage, which the company has designed to increase the flexibility and capability of their rockets. This particular mission was especially significant because of its timing, launched in the same year that the Delta IV Heavy is retiring.
ULA President and CEO Tory Bruno praised the launch team in a statement, saying “This amazing mission marks the end of an era, but it also marks the beginning of a journey to the future of Launch with the Advanced Common Evolved Stage. I can’t thank the launch team enough not only for their incredible work, but also for their commitment to ‘Flawless’ mission accomplishments.”
The Cygnus spacecraft, named the S.S. Gene Cernan in honor of the late astronaut, is planned to dock with the ISS on Saturday, August 15. The mission also marks the end of the Antares-Cygnus program, as United Launch Alliance will begin launching missions on their new Vulcan Centaur rocket in 2021.
While the retirement of the DeltaIV Heavy rocket marks the end of an era, it also signals the beginning of a new chapter in human spaceflight exploration. After nearly two decades of service, ULA’s Flawless Cygnus mission shows that the future of space travel is in good hands.
