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.
