NASA launches robotic Cygnus cargo spacecraft on a resupply mission

News, US February 19, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

Northrop Grumman launches NG-17, the resupply mission to the International Space Station on February 19 under NASA’s Commercial Resupply Service-2 contract.

According to the official release, the robotic spacecraft will deliver 8,300 pounds of critical cargo to astronauts living aboard the International Space Station. The private Cygnus freighter will perform its first operational International Space Station reboost service.

Antares was launched on February 19 at 12:40 p.m. EST from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Pad 0A at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia. Cygnus rendezvous with the station on February 21, where it will remain attached to the station for three months while performing the reboost, the statement added.

Vice president of civil and commercial space at Northrop Grumman, Steve Krein said, “We are expanding the suite of value-added capabilities that we offer through our proven Cygnus program. The addition of reboost services to Cygnus’ capabilities provides NASA with an even greater tool to advance space science and exploration, whether that’s on the International Space Station, the moon or beyond.”

*^{Antares rocket on Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Pad 0A at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia. (Image Credit: Northrop Grumman)}*

According to the company’s release, “Each Cygnus spacecraft is named in honor of an individual who has made great contributions to human spaceflight. For the NG-17 mission, Cygnus celebrates Piers Sellers, a former NASA astronaut, and renowned climate scientist. Sellers flew on missions STS-112, STS-121, and STS-132, logging nearly 35 days in space and 41 extravehicular activity hours across six spacewalks to help construct the International Space Station. He was a strong advocate for climate research, creating and teaching solutions to limit mankind’s impact on the planet. After retiring as an astronaut in 2011, Sellers rejoined his colleagues at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, leading science and exploration endeavors. In 2016, he received NASA’s Distinguished Service Medal, the agency’s highest honor, before passing away later that year.”

The Cygnus system is a flight-proven design incorporating elements drawn from Northrop Grumman and its partners’ existing, flight-proven spacecraft technologies. It consists of a service module and a pressurized cargo module. The spacecraft is used to carry crew supplies, spare equipment, and scientific experiments to the space station.

The Northrop Grumman website describes the Cygnus service module as the one that incorporates “advanced avionics” and “guidance and navigation components that allow for fully autonomous rendezvous with the space station”.

Cygnus program begin in 2014 and has carried more than 70,000 pounds (31,500 kg) of critical cargo to the station under the first CRS-1 contract. The spacecraft has demonstrated advanced capabilities during cargo resupply missions and is capable of acting as laboratory space while docked to the station. It can also fly in orbit for more than one year.

In November 2019, the company flew the first CRS-2 mission, NG-12, and expected to carry out a minimum of five additional missions under the Commercial Resupply Services contract.