ABOUT ANTARES 230
Antares known during early development as Taurus II, is an expendable launch system developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation (now part of Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems after Northrop Grumman acquired Orbital ATK) and the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau to launch the Cygnus spacecraft to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s COTS and CRS programs. Able to launch payloads heavier than 5,000 kg (11,000 lb) into low-Earth orbit, Antares is the largest rocket operated by Orbital ATK. Antares launches from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport and made its inaugural flight on April 21, 2013.
PAYLOAD CAPACITY
7,800 kg
TO LEO
17,199 lbs
LIFTOFF THRUST
3,844
KILONEWTONS
864,166
POUNDS-FORCE
~5,155
HORSEPOWER
DIMENSIONS
Height42.5 m (139 ft)
Diameter3.9 m (12.8 ft)
Launch Mass286 kg (631 lbs)
Stages3
⚙ RELATED ENGINES