Report: Orbital Faces Risks in Resuming Space Station Runs

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.— One of NASA’s two commercial suppliers, Virginia-based Orbital, faces an uphill struggle in resuming deliveries to the International Space Station, according to a government report issued Thursday.The space agency’s inspector ge...
Report: Orbital Faces Risks in Resuming Space Station Runs
FILE - In this Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2014 file photo, an unmanned Orbital Sciences Corp.'s Antares rocket headed for the International Space Station lifts off from the Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Va. shortly before exploding. On Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015, NASA's inspector general said that Orbital Sciences Corp. faces significant risks in its effort to recover from the explosion. AP Photo/Eastern Shore News, Jay Diem
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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.— One of NASA’s two commercial suppliers, Virginia-based Orbital, faces an uphill struggle in resuming deliveries to the International Space Station, according to a government report issued Thursday.

The space agency’s inspector general office said the company’s upcoming flight plan contains significant risks, as its attempts to recover from last October’s launch explosion. Orbital’s Antares rocket failed seconds after liftoff from Virginia, destroying the space station goods and damaging the launch complex. It was Orbital’s fourth supply mission, including a 2013 test flight.

Orbital remains grounded, as does SpaceX, NASA’s other commercial shipper, following a failed launch from Cape Canaveral in June. It was the California-based SpaceX’s eighth shipment for NASA. Russia and Japan also send up supplies.

Orbital is working to get cargo to the space station as early as December by putting it on another company’s rocket in Cape Canaveral. At the same time, Orbital — which merged with ATK earlier this year — hopes to resume Antares flights from Virginia next year with new engines.

Artist concept of NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) 70-metric-ton configuration launching to space. SLS is still in development, with its first flight slated for 2018. (NASA/MSFC)
Artist concept of NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) 70-metric-ton configuration launching to space. SLS is still in development, with its first flight slated for 2018. NASA/MSFC