Antares launches Cygnus freighter to ISS
Capitalism in space: Northrop Grumman’s Antares rocket today successfully launched a Cygnus freighter to ISS.
This was Northrop Grumman’s first launch in 2019. The company hopes to complete 4 launches this year.
Meanwhile the leaders in the 2019 launch race remain unchanged:
4 SpaceX
4 China
4 Europe (Arianespace)
3 Russia
The U.S. however has widened its lead in the national rankings, 8 to 4.
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Capitalism in space: Northrop Grumman’s Antares rocket today successfully launched a Cygnus freighter to ISS.
This was Northrop Grumman’s first launch in 2019. The company hopes to complete 4 launches this year.
Meanwhile the leaders in the 2019 launch race remain unchanged:
4 SpaceX
4 China
4 Europe (Arianespace)
3 Russia
The U.S. however has widened its lead in the national rankings, 8 to 4.
I cannot thank enough the numerous people who so generously donated or subscribed to Behind the Black during this fund drive. The response was remarkable, and reflected the steady growth and popularity of the work I have been doing here for the past ten-plus years.
Thank you again!
Though the find-raising campaign is officially over, and I am no longer plastering the main page with requests for help, if you like what you have read you can still contribute, by giving either a one-time contribution or a regular subscription, as outlined in the tip jar below. Your support will allow me to continue covering science and culture as I have for the past twenty years, independent and free from any outside influence.
Regular readers can support Behind The Black with a contribution via paypal:
If Paypal doesn't work for you, you can support Behind The Black directly by sending your donation by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman, to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
With Cygus at station this week (assuming 1-2 day orbit time, arriving today/tomorrow) and SpaceX launching CRS-17 on Friday next week, we should see both CBM ports occupied by US vehicles. Yay!
Russia usually keeps 4 vehicles on their end (2 Soyuz, 2 Progress, and previously 1 ATV from Europe) and there have been 6 vehicles (ATV, HTV, Shuttle, and 2 Soyuz, 1 progress Feb 2011 (STS 133 mission).
https://i.stack.imgur.com/VJ6bd.jpg
One day we might see as many as seven, but unlikely.