# Antares

> launch vehicle produced by Northrop Grumman from the United States

**Wikidata**: [Q128683](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q128683)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antares_(rocket))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/antares

## Summary
Antares is an expendable launch vehicle, classified as a rocket series, produced by Northrop Grumman from the United States. It is designed to be expended after use and has been manufactured by several entities, including Orbital Sciences Corporation and Orbital ATK, before its current producer.

## Key Facts
*   Antares is an expendable launch vehicle, meaning it is expended after use.
*   It was initially manufactured by Orbital Sciences Corporation from 2013 to 2014.
*   Orbital ATK manufactured Antares from 2016 to 2018.
*   Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems manufactured Antares from 2018 to 2020.
*   Northrop Grumman Space Systems has manufactured Antares since 2020.
*   Antares was powered by NK-33 engines from 2013 to 2014.
*   Antares has been powered by RD-191 engines since 2016.
*   It is known by aliases such as Taurus II, Taurus 2, トーラスIIロケット, トーラスII, トーラス2, and Таурус-2.
*   The maiden flight of Antares on April 21, 2013, launched the Cygnus Mass Simulator.
*   Antares is a rocket series that originates from the United States.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Antares?
A: Antares is an expendable launch vehicle, classified as a rocket series, produced by Northrop Grumman from the United States. It is designed to be expended after use, meaning it is not recovered after a mission.

### Q: Who manufactures Antares?
A: Antares has been manufactured by several companies over its operational history. These include Orbital Sciences Corporation (2013-2014), Orbital ATK (2016-2018), Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems (2018-2020), and Northrop Grumman Space Systems (from 2020).

### Q: What engines power Antares?
A: Antares has utilized different engines during its operational periods. From 2013 to 2014, it was powered by NK-33 engines. Since 2016, Antares has been powered by RD-191 engines.

### Q: What type of missions does Antares support?
A: Antares supports various space missions, primarily launching cargo spacecraft like the Cygnus series to the International Space Station. It also serves as a launch platform for numerous satellites, including CubeSats, for scientific and technological demonstrations.

## Why It Matters
Antares plays a significant role in space logistics and exploration, particularly for its contributions to resupplying the International Space Station (ISS). As an expendable launch vehicle, it provides a reliable means of delivering critical cargo and supplies to astronauts aboard the ISS via the Cygnus spacecraft. This capability is vital for maintaining continuous human presence in space and supporting ongoing scientific research. Beyond ISS resupply, Antares also serves as a crucial platform for launching a diverse array of satellites, including CubeSats from various countries and organizations. These missions contribute to technological development, Earth observation, scientific studies, and educational initiatives, demonstrating its importance in fostering innovation and expanding access to space for a wide range of payloads. Its evolution through different manufacturers and propulsion systems highlights its adaptability and continued relevance in the competitive space launch market.

## Notable For
*   **Dedicated ISS Resupply:** Primarily known for launching Cygnus cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station, supporting critical resupply missions.
*   **Evolution of Manufacturers and Propulsion:** Has undergone changes in both its primary manufacturer (from Orbital Sciences to Northrop Grumman) and its first-stage engines (from NK-33 to RD-191).
*   **Diverse Small Satellite Deployment:** Has launched a wide variety of small satellites and CubeSats from numerous countries, including Flock-1, LitSat-1, SkyCube, NepaliSat-1, and Maya-2.
*   **Maiden Flight Payload:** Its first flight in 2013 carried the Cygnus Mass Simulator, a boilerplate payload to test the rocket's capabilities.

## Body

### Overview
Antares is an expendable launch vehicle, classified as a rocket series, produced by Northrop Grumman from the United States. It is designed to be expended after use. The vehicle is also known by several aliases, including Taurus II, Taurus 2, トーラスIIロケット, トーラスII, トーラス2, and Таурус-2.

### Manufacturers
The manufacturing of Antares has evolved through several entities:
*   **Orbital Sciences Corporation:** Manufactured Antares from 2013 to 2014.
*   **Orbital ATK:** Manufactured Antares from 2016 to 2018.
*   **Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems:** Manufactured Antares from 2018 to 2020.
*   **Northrop Grumman Space Systems:** Has manufactured Antares since 2020.

### Propulsion
Antares has utilized different engine types for its propulsion:
*   **NK-33:** Powered Antares from 2013 to 2014.
*   **RD-191:** Has powered Antares since 2016.

### Missions and Payloads
Antares has been instrumental in launching various spacecraft and satellites, primarily for cargo resupply to the International Space Station and for deploying small satellites.

**Cygnus Cargo Resupply Missions:**
*   Cygnus CRS Orb-1: Second cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station.
*   Cygnus CRS Orb-2: Third cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station.
*   Cygnus CRS Orb-3: A failed ISS resupply mission.
*   Cygnus CRS OA-5: Seventh cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station.
*   Cygnus CRS OA-8E: Ninth cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station.
*   Cygnus CRS OA-9E: Tenth cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station.
*   Cygnus NG-10: Cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station.
*   Cygnus NG-11: Cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station.
*   Cygnus NG-12: Cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station.
*   Cygnus NG-13: Cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station.

**Other Notable Payloads and Related Entities:**
*   **Cygnus Mass Simulator:** A boilerplate payload launched on the maiden flight of Antares on April 21, 2013.
*   **Flock-1:** A CubeSat constellation launched in 2014.
*   **LitSat-1:** A Lithuanian satellite, launched in 2014.
*   **SkyCube:** A crowd-funded satellite project.
*   **UAPSat-1:** A satellite.
*   **Lambdasat:** A Greek cubesat.
*   **RaInCube:** A 6U CubeSat.
*   **RSP-01:** A satellite.
*   **Space Tethered Autonomous Robotic Satellite - Elevator CubeSat:** A Japanese tethered nano-satellite which reentered in 2022.
*   **EnduroSat One:** A CubeSat launched from the ISS in 2018, from Bulgaria.
*   **NepaliSat-1:** Nepal's first ever satellite.
*   **Seeker:** A CubeSat built to demonstrate inspection of other spacecraft.
*   **Maya-2:** A Philippine CubeSat.
*   **Asgardia-1:** A former CubeSat operated by Asgardia.
*   **STPSat-4:** A U.S. Air Force technology demonstration satellite.
*   **Raavana 1:** A Sri Lankan research satellite.
*   **KITSUNE:** A Japanese nanosatellite.

### Classification
Antares is classified as an expendable launch vehicle, which is a type of space launch vehicle that is not reused after a single mission. It is also categorized as a rocket series.

### Related Cargo Spacecraft Models
*   **Cygnus Standard:** A model of American uncrewed cargo spacecraft produced by Orbital Sciences Corporation.
*   **Cygnus Enhanced:** A model of American uncrewed cargo spacecraft produced by Orbital Sciences/Northrop Grumman.
*   **Cygnus XL:** A model of American uncrewed cargo spacecraft produced by Northrop Grumman.

### Online Presence
*   **Website:** https://www.northropgrumman.com/space/antares-rocket/ (English)
*   **Wikipedia:** Antares (rocket)
*   **Commons Category:** Antares (rocket)

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## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. BBC Things