The launch of the Antares rocket carrying the Cygnus spacecraft is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 10:26 p.m. from Wallops Island, Virginia.
Northrop Grumman inamed the NG-14 Cygnus spacecraft after former astronaut Kalpana Chawla, the first female astronaut of Indian descent whose contributions to human spaceflight have had a lasting impact.
In 2018, the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation which designated the Thursday prior to Memorial Day each year as "Celebrate Transportation Day." This year, the heroes of the Virginia transportation industry are being recognized for their hardwork, which is critical now more than ever due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To view the profiles of Virginia Space's transportation heroes, as well as others throughout the state, visit the Virginia Department of Transportation's website.
RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam announced activation of Rocket Lab’s first launch facility in the United States, located at Wallops Island.
RICHMOND—The Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority (Virginia Space), Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, and NASA Wallops Flight Facility celebrate the successful launch for Northrop Grumman’s 12th cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission, designated NG-12, launched today at 9:59 a.m. from Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) Pad 0A located at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia. The Commonwealth of Virginia built MARS Pad 0A to accommodate the Antares 230+ rocket configuration and Cygnus spacecraft.
December 3, 2019
Wallops Island—It is with great sadness that we received word of the passing of one of our Board members, Bittle Porterfield, III. Bittle passed away on November 29, 2019 in Roanoke, Virginia. Bittle began his service on the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority Board of Directors on July 1, 2013. Bittle had a long history as an avid supporter of aviation and aerospace in Virginia and throughout the region, among many other areas of active interest and service. He brought that enthusiasm and wealth of experience to his service on the Board, and he will be greatly missed, even as we remember and honor his many contributions.
On behalf of the Board, the Management, and Staff of the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority, we extend our deepest condolences to Bittle’s wife, Charlotte and his extended family.
With sympathy,
Jeff Bingham
Chair, Virginia Space Board of Directors
( March 09, 1944 - November 29, 2019 )
Bittle Wilson Porterfield III died on November 29, 2019 in Roanoke, VA. A native of Roanoke, he was born on March 9, 1944. He was preceded in death by his parents, Margaret Rice Porterfield and B. Wilson Porterfield, Jr.; and his brother, Gordon Thomas Porterfield.
Bittle is survived by his wife of 50 years, Charlotte Kelley Porterfield; his two sons Bittle Wilson Porterfield IV and wife, Holly; and Forrest Kelley Porterfield and wife, Katie; and four grandchildren, Bittle Wilson Porterfield V, Jackson Watkins Porterfield, Forrest Shepperson Porterfield, and William Hines Porterfield. Also surviving are his brother, Lawrence Chapman Porterfield and wife, Brenda, as well as his niece, Margaret Porterfield Longhouser, and nephews Chapman and Stephen Porterfield.
Bittle graduated from Roanoke College in 1968 and received his M.B.A. from Virginia Tech in 1971. He served in the United States Army from March of 1968 to March of
1970. Bittle spent most of his career working in the beverage industry with Porterfield Distributing (Beer and Wine Distribution in the Roanoke Valley) and Rice Management (Pepsi Bottling Plants in Johnson City, TN and Montgomery, AL).
Bittle loved the Roanoke Valley and was dedicated to making Roanoke and the state of Virginia better places to live. He gave his time to numerous boards and organizations, including serving as Chairman of the Roanoke Valley Business Council, the Foundation for the Roanoke Valley, and the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority. He was president of the Taubman Museum of Art and the Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce. Passionate about aviation, he was the Chairman of the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission, an appointed Director of the Board of the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority, and a member of the Virginia Aviation Board, appointed by Governor Tim Kaine. Bittle valued education and was honored when Governor Mark Warner appointed him to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. He also served as Chairman of the North Cross School Board of Trustees, was a member of the Hollins University Board of Trustees and Rector of the Radford University Board of Visitors. He served on the Boards of the Child Health Investment Partnership of the Roanoke Valley and Apple Ridge Farm.
Bittle loved golf, flying, traveling, fishing, hiking, canoeing and skiing. He was a dedicated husband, father,
grandfather and friend. Bittle split his time later in life between Roanoke and Hot Springs, VA.
The family sincerely thanks the staff at the Harmony Collection at Roanoke Memory Care and Good Samaritan Hospice for their wonderful care and kindness.
The memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 5, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, where Bittle was a member for more than 45 years.
There will be a reception at the church following the service. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Fralin Biomedical Institute for Brain Research at Virginia Tech-Carilion Foundation, 902 Prices Fork Road, Blacksburg, VA, 24061. Arrangements by Oakey’s Funeral Home, Roanoke, Virginia.
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