On 17 October 2016, Orbital ATK (now Northrop Grumman Space Systems) successfully launched an upgraded Antares rocket, returning to flight after a catastrophic explosion two years earlier.
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01Summary
- 01The Antares rocket lifted off from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on 17 October 2016.
- 02The previous attempt in 2014 ended in a catastrophic explosion seconds after liftoff.
- 03The Cygnus cargo spacecraft arrived at the ISS six days later, delivering food, supplies and science experiments.
- 04Orbital ATK was contracted by NASA to fly cargo to the ISS as part of the Commercial Resupply Services programme.
- 05The Antares rocket went on to fly another 12 times before being redesigned.
02Why it matters
This return to flight was critical for maintaining a steady supply chain to the International Space Station, ensuring continuous human occupancy and the delivery of essential research materials.
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