5:30 PM CT Update: Cygnus solar panels will deploy very soon. all systems still nominal. Join us early Thursday morning as Cygnus reaches the International Space Station for rendezvous and docking coverage!

5:10 PM CT Update: Everything performing well. All systems nominal. Spacecraft separation confirmed and confirmation of successful Cygnus orbital insertion.

5:01 PM CT Update: Nominal liftoff of the Antares rocket with Cygnus spacecraft onboard at 5:01 pm CT from Wallops Flight Facility.

Today NASA and Northrop Grumman and NASA are launching the 16th cargo resupply mission of Cygnus to the International Space Station (ISS). The Antares rocket will deliver Cygnus into orbit and toward the ISS for rendezvous and docking.

Cygnus is carrying over eight thousand pounds of crew supplies, Station hardware, and science experiments to the ISS.

The Cygnus spacecraft is dedicated to NASA’s first Asian American astronaut Ellison Onizuka. Onizuka lost his life aboard Space Shuttle Challenger in 1986.

Today’s launch is scheduled for 5:01 p.m. CT liftoff from Wallops Flight Facility. With ten minutes left on the countdown clock weather is a 90% go, and Antares is go for launch.