In a previous diary, I said that there were multiple shuttle replacements on the way. And in a separate diary, I showed the first one, and probably the most well known - The SpaceX Dragon/Falcon 9 combo. Let me introduce you to the next one.
Orbital Science Corporation's Cygnus/Taurus 2 - also developed for the NASA COTS program (same as the Falcon 9/Dragon)
Orbital Science Corporation, unlike SpaceX, is not an entirely new kid on the block. It was founded in 1982, and has experience with multiple rockets (Pegasusis perhaps the most well known, but there is also the Taurus& Minotaurseries, as well). They also have developed & built a number of satellites, for various government. They were working on the Orion Abort System, but are now offering that up as a commercially available Launch Abort System. Orbital's proposal for cargo resupply was selected after another company failed to deliver.
The rocket being used is called the Taurus 2. The Taurus 2 is considered a medium launcher, that can put 5,500 kg into LEO. Its first launch is expected to be in 2011. The rocket utilizes a liquid first stage, and solid upper stage (although they are looking at adding a pure liquid upper stage, for greater performance. The Taurus 2 will be launched out of Virginia, as opposed to the cape. There is also a third stage in development, although neither this nor the pure liquid stage is required to loft their Cygnus spacecraft.
Their Cygnus spacecraft has 2 parts - the propulsion module is based on components they have developed (the Star Bus & Dawn Spacecraft). The cargo module has 2 variety, one designed for external unpressurized payload, and one for internal pressurized payload. Right now, the NASA has only purchased the internal pressurized payload version. This is based on a cargo module that has flown on the shuttle.
Currently, OSC is primarily pursuing the unmanned version, for cargo only. However, they have at least said publicly they are interested in going after a manned version of the rocket.
And now for the cool videos