Rocket flight likely to be visible from Bermuda
A rocket to be launched into space today from the US should be visible to any Bermuda residents who cast their eyes skyward.
The rocket will blast off from Wallops Island in Virginia, at 6pm Bermuda time, according to a report on Space.com.
The Antares rocket is built by the Dulles-based Orbital Sciences Corporation. If all goes well, the test flight from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, will pave the way for future unmanned cargo deliveries to the International Space Station.
“The best chance to see the flight extends from Cape May, New Jersey southward through the Outer Banks of North Carolina,” an Orbital spokesman said. “Also, if you happen to be in Bermuda, you will likely have a clear view of Antares as it rockets by 6pm.”
The two-stage 131ft Antares will leave Virginia and head toward the southeast over the Atlantic Ocean and towards Bermuda.
It is designed to launch a cylindrical unmanned Orbital cargo ship, Cygnus, on delivery flights to the International Space Station under a $1.9 billion deal with NASA. Today’s test flight will see Antares carry a mock payload called a mass simulator, to mimic a Cygnus.
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