Ramona Adams
Orbital ATK has performed a hot-fire test on the updated first stage propulsion system of the Antares rocket with RD-181 main engines at Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport.
NASA said Wednesday the test sought to assess the performance of the integrated first stage — including new engines, modified Stage 1 core, avionics, thrust vector control and pad fueling systems — in an operational environment.
The Antares engineering team will evaluate data from the 30-second test to confirm whether all requirements were met, the agency added.
Orbital ATK will resume cargo resupply missions to the International Space Station from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in July if the test was successful, NASA noted.
The test also worked to check full propellant loading sequence; launch countdown, engine ignition and shutdown commands; throttle settings; and the launch pad’s functions, including propellant tanking and water deluge system.
