Antares rocket blasts into orbit for first time in test for NASA

In its maiden flight to space, a commercially built 13-story rocket blasted off from a launch pad off the coast of Virginia in a test mission for NASA. The Antares rocket, developed by Orbital Sciences Corp., roared into orbit after launching Sunday at 2 p.m. Pacific time from the newly built Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility. Although it was simply a test flight to reach orbit, the successful launch was another crucial step in NASA’s plan to hand off space missions -- carrying cargo and crews -- to private industry now that the space shuttle fleet has been retired. More

(Source: Los Angeles Times - Apr 22)