VIRGINIA is for lovers 鈥� especially lovers of rockets. On 17 September aerospace firm of Dulles announced to launch cargo runs to the International Space Station (ISS) from a private spaceport on the state鈥檚 eastern coast.
If Orbital鈥檚 pre-mission tests go as planned next month, their first demonstration flight could happen by the end of the year, and the on Wallops Island will become the first commercial spaceport to launch a mission to the ISS. The new deal formalises Orbital鈥檚 use of the Virginia spaceport, where a launch pad has been built to send the company鈥檚 Antares rocket beyond the stratosphere.
鈥淲e鈥檙e down to the last operational tests to get certified by NASA that the pad is safe to use,鈥� says Orbital spokesman Barron Beneski.
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