The first flight of Orbital Science Company’s Taurus rocket on the A-One maiden launch went well. The booster delivered the dummy Cygnus payload simulator into orbit, and everything appeared to go well with the launch. Delayed twice, first by an umbilical and unacceptable weather Saturday, the Antares rocket ignited, and roared off the pad and arced northeast away from Wallops Island, Virginia, and NASA TV provided live coverage of the launch.

 

Television from both ground tracking cameras and onboard the first and second stages of the Antares rocket were sent down to the ground, and here is what some of the images looked like:

 

    First stage burning properly during the first stage of ascent.

         First stage separation and the first stage falling away as the upper
         stage accelerates to orbit.

 

Second stage shutdown and the Cygnus payload simulator is in orbit.

 

All in all an apparently very successful debut flight for the second COTS resupply company, and the International Space Station is going to have a second company able to supply cargo to the orbital outpost. Hurrah for OSC/Taurus! Way to Go!