Virginia Governor McDonnell Visits NASA Wallops Flight Facility (With Photos)

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell paid a visit to NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on October 17 for a first-hand look at the development of Orbital Sciences Corporation’s Taurus II rocket that will start carrying supplies to the International Space Station in 2012. Orbital will be conducting missions for NASA under the agency’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services project and Commercial Resupply Services contract. During the visit the Governor also received a construction update on the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport’s launch pad 0A from which the Taurus II will launch.

(HIF 2) Governor McDonnell (center) listens intently as Orbital Sciences CEO David Thompson and Les Kovacs, Orbital’s Wallops Site Manager (right) describes the Taurus II’s second stage motor. Also participating in the visit were Christyl Johnson, Goddard Space Flight Center’s Deputy Director for Science and Technology (left) and Bill Wrobel, the Wallops Flight Facility Director.