12:30 PM | **UPDATE: LAUNCH SCRUBBED FOR TODAY DUE TO WINDS** 5PM launch at NASA Wallops Island; should be favorable conditions and visible up and down the east coast

Discussion

The rocket launch that was scrubbed earlier this week at Wallops Island, Virginia will be launched at 5PM this evening. Sky conditions look quite favorable for this scheduled launch time and for viewing conditions up and down the east coast. The originally scheduled launch on Wednesday was not scrubbed because of weather issues, but rather due to the premature separation of a launch pad connection to the rocket’s upper stage. The rocket that is set to launch is an Orbital Sciences’ Antares rocket that is 133 feet tall. This is to be the first launch of the Antares rocket, the first orbital launch of a liquid-fueled rocket from Wallops Island, and the largest ever launched there. According to an executive with the company “it is going to be the biggest and loudest and brightest thing that’s ever been launched from Wallops!” The rocket should be visible for about 90 seconds after liftoff along the east coast if you can find a clear view of the horizon. Look about 10 degrees above the horizon in the southeastern sky if in the DC metro region, and in the southern sky if in Philly or New York City. This rocket is being launched as part of a test mission with the goal of transporting cargo to the International Space Station. Real-time launch updates are available on the Wallops Island Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/NASAWFF