Essential first stage booster components for the new Taurus II booster rocket is being delayed prior to shipment to the United States from the Ukraine by state owned company "Yuzhmash" based in eastern city Dnipropetrovsk. Delivery was expected this month but is now expected in September or October, 2010."For some technical reasons, the delivery date has been put off to September-October," Yuzhmash said in a statement.
In 2008, Ukraine's companies "Yuzhnoye" and "Yuzhmash" signed a long-term contract with U.S. Orbital Sciences Corp. on cooperation in producing Taurus-II rocket till 2019 with the goal of commencing commercial cargo and resupply launches to the International Space Station in mid-2011 from the commercial Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island, Va.
A new commercial launch pad is in final phases of construction to host the Taurus II booster. Construction is expected to be completed late this year. Virginia is becoming a significant 'player' in the NewSpace Era with other private commercial space launch firms now taking a serious look-see at the fledgling orbital spaceport.
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