Rockets: Antares launch from Virginia + Falcon 9 Blk 5 + Nexø II + Chinese commercial launchers

Some miscellaneous rocket related items:

**  Antares/Cygnus Launch: Orbital ATK is set to launch an Antares rocket early Sunday morning, May 20th from Wallops Island, Virginia to send a Cygnus cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station. There is a five-minute launch window at 5:04-5:09 am EDT (0904-0909 GMT).

[ Update: The launch has slipped to Monday: OA-9 Mission – Orbital ATK.]

Schematic of the OA-9 Cygnus cargo mission to the ISS. Click for an extra large version.

Depending on the weather conditions, the launch should be visible over a large area along the East Coast. Check these sites for info on viewing opportunities:

For the OA-9 Mission, the Cygnus will carry 3,350 kg (7,385 lb) of supplies, equipment, science and technology R&D experiments, etc. Here are articles about the science and technology payloads:

** Falcon 9 Block 5:  Here is a description of the new Block 5 version of SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and an overview of why it is so significant: With Block 5, SpaceX to increase launch cadence and lower prices – NASASpaceFlight.com

The Everyday Astronaut gives his explanation of what the Block 5 is all about:

A view of the Block 5 first stage booster coming down for a landing after launching Bangladesh’s first satellite on May 11th:

Block 5 Booster lands on the droneship “Of Course I Still Love You”.

And here is the booster coming into Port Canaveral for inspection and eventual re-flight:

The first Block 5 first stage booster to fly and land, returns home to Port Canaveral.

An amateur video of the launch from nearby Playa Linda Beach:

A beautifully made short film by Ryan Chylinski for SpaceFlight insider:

** Nexø II: This summer Copenhagen Suborbitals plans to launch Nexø II, the most advanced rocket the all-volunteer group has ever flown. This video walks “you through the engine section of the rocket”:

Here is recent report on the testing of the rocket

** Chinese commercial rockets: Startup rocket companies have started appearing in China in the past couple of years. This week, for example, OneSpace Technologies flew a rocket on a suborbital test to 40 km: Chinese company OneSpace sends OS-X rocket to 40 km in maiden flight – GBTimes.

Link Space is developing rockets with reusable first stages in the manner of SpaceX. Here is a Chinese TV news report on the company:

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