I'm going down to watch this one.....

[callmeslick]

...I can see most decent sized Wallops launches from the front porch of the VA house. This one should be spectacular to watch!!

from press release:"The private space company Orbital Sciences Corp. is one of two firms with a NASA contract to deliver cargo to the International Space Station on unmanned spacecraft (the other is SpaceX). In February, Orbital Sciences plans to launch its Antares rocket on its first test flight, which will carry a model of its robotic Cygnus spacecraft. The launch will blast off from the company's complex on Wallops Island in Virginia.
If the Antares test flight goes well, the first functional Cygnus spacecraft is scheduled to fly on its initial test flight to the International Space Station on April 5."


another fun option is watching from the dockside bar at the Chincoteague Inn. Will try to head down and take photos for you all, but these things get dicey around weather.

[Pudfark]

That oughta be interesting. I'd like to see some pics if conditions are good.

[callmeslick]

yeah, the rocket they're using for that one is a big boy. IIRC, it is a refurbed Russian beast of a rocket, far bigger than the usual satellite launches. I missed the test fire of the rocket last year, as weather rescheduled it away from when I was down there with the grandkids. We were all set up on the porch with iced tea and steamed shrimp when they announced the postponement.
I was bummed.....the grandkids were oblivious.