From Staff Reports

A rocket carrying supplies for the International Space Station is set to lift off on April 17 from Wallops Island, and residents throughout the mid-Atlantic may be able to see it, weather permitting, says NASA.

The NG-11 mission, part of Northrop Grumman’s Antares program, is scheduled to lift off at 4:46 p.m. Wednesday, April 17, from the Virginia Eastern Shore facility.

The rocket will transport the Cygnus cargo spacecraft, which will deliver routine supplies to the International Space Station. It will also transport scores of satellites into space including those made by middle and high schoolers from Delmarva.

On Delmarva, public viewing options include the Visitor Center at Wallops as well as Chincoteague.

Depending on weather, the launch may also possibly be visible along the East Coast of the United States, NASA said in a release.

The NASA Visitor Center at Wallops will open at noon on launch day for public viewing. Additional locations for catching the launch are Robert Reed Park in Chincoteague or Beach Road spanning the area between Chincoteague and Assateague Islands.

The beach at the Assateague Island National Seashore/Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge will not be open during the launch.

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Alcohol, pets and firearms are not allowed on the NASA Visitor Center grounds. Also, because of limited parking, over-size vehicles such as campers and recreational vehicles will not be able to park on the Visitor Center grounds, the release said.

NASA is also asking drone operators to exercise caution if using their unmanned aircraft to view the rocket launch and avoid flying over the public and NASA Wallops Flight Facility property.

Drones should not fly over NASA Wallops Flight Facility property, the marsh areas between Wallops Island and the mainland, and over the Atlantic Ocean east of Wallops Island, it said.

A Temporary Flight Restriction and other Special Use Airspace will be activated by the Federal Aviation Administration. Fines and penalties are applicable and will be enforced.

More on Wallops launch:

NASA rocket launch: Where to eat, drink as you watch Wallops flight to ISS

NASA Wallops launch: Here's why student-built satellites are coming aboard the NG-11

NASA Wallops' next Antares rocket launch to ISS in April

For more information about the Visitor Center, including directions, visit http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/visitorcenter

You can also experience the launch through the Wallops Mission Status Center. There you will find information about the mission and links to live countdown audio as well as live video of the launch.

Live coverage of the mission is scheduled to begin at 11:45 a.m. on launch day on the Wallops video and audio Ustream sites.

The Status Center can be reached using a smartphone, computer or tablet using most web browsers including Safari, Firefox or Chrome. It is not compatible with Explorer.

Launch updates will be available via the Wallops Facebook and Twitter sites.

Launch coverage on NASA TV will begin at 4:15 p.m. EDT. For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and scheduling information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv

For more information about International Space Station, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/station

Get more information about Northrop Grumman, its Antares rocket and the Cygnus cargo spacecraft at: http://www.nasa.gov/northropgrumman

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