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back to article Chow rocket blasts off for ISS: Awww, freeze-dried ice cream AGAIN

A private space company has launched its third mission: an Antares rocket sending a freighter packed with food – among other things – to the International Space Station. Orbital Sciences Corp's unmanned Cygnus spacecraft lifted off from Virginia's eastern shore yesterday strapped to a 13-storey high Antares rocket, which is …

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  1. Sebastian Brosig
    Paris Hilton

    so there's the theme for the next SPB mission after Lohan: bring crate of beer to ISS.

    Paris connection? The backronym will surely provide one.

    0 0 Reply
  2. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

    "private space company"

    Orbital science is a consortium of the same defense companies that used to build the Space Shuttle and other kit for Nasa and now launches rockets for them and the USAF under a no-bid single supplier contract. Calling them a private space company is a bit of a stretch

    1 3 Reply
    1. The Western Spaceport
      Reply Icon

      Re: "private space company"

      Orbital was founded and incorporated in 1982 by three friends who had met earlier while at Harvard Business School: David Thompson, Bruce Ferguson and Scott Webster -- not exactly as you wish to claim, you anonymous coward.

      2 0 Reply
    2. Gene Cash Silver badge
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      Re: "private space company"

      No. "USA" (United Space Alliance) is the consortium of the same defense companies (Boeing & Lockheed) that used to build the Space Shuttle and other kit for NASA and now launches rockets for them and the USAF under a no-bid single supplier contract.

      They are a large employer here in Florida on the Space Coast.

      Orbital is the one that air-launches the Pegasus launcher by slinging it under an L-1011 ex-airliner.

      1 0 Reply
  3. Gene Cash Silver badge

    SpaceX is persona non-grata

    NASA TV has no problem showing hours of Antares sitting on the pad, but they won't mention SpaceX at all, even if it's a launch to ISS.

    0 0 Reply
    1. The Western Spaceport
      Reply Icon

      Re: SpaceX is persona non-grata

      Not true. There was extensive web/closed-circuit broadcasting ("NASA TV") of SpaceX's last launch to ISS. Today's mission was for Orbcomm, a different customer, not NASA.

      And while we're also on the subject of contractors, check out the latest from the Motley Fool on who made NASA's top ten list. It might surprise you: http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/07/13/who-are-nasas-top-10-contractors.aspx

      1 0 Reply
  4. Scroticus Canis
    Unhappy

    Freeze-dried ice cream rehydrated tastes of recycled .....

    ..... oh yuk.

    0 0 Reply
  5. Andus McCoatover
    Windows

    Sorry, but is this another El-Reg measurement?

    Can a 'Storey' be measured in London Bus heights?

    Just curious....

    0 0 Reply
  6. Dr Patrick J R Harkin

    Delivering food to the ISS.

    Surely I've seen an ad for an app that does that?

    1 0 Reply

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