U.S. Commercial Cargo Ship Departs the Space Station
Spoiler
The Orbital/ATK Cygnus cargo ship was released from the International Space Station June 4, following a 44-day stay at the complex in which approximately 7,600 pounds of supplies and scientific experiments were delivered to the stations residents. NASA Flight Engineers Jack Fischer and Peggy Whitson were at the controls of the Canadarm2 robotic arm to release Cygnus after it was unbolted from the Earth-facing port of the Unity module. Dubbed the "SS John Glenn" after the iconic Mercury and shuttle astronaut and U.S. Senator from Ohio, Cygnus will remain in orbit for a week in support of the SAFFIRE experiment and the deployment of four small Nanoracks satellites before Orbital ATK flight controllers send commands June 11 to deorbit the spacecraft for its reentry into the Earths atmosphere, where it will burn up over the Pacific Ocean.
NASA Space Station Cargo Launches aboard Orbital ATK Resupply Mission
The International Space Station will be capable of dozens of new scientific investigations from NASA and around the world when Orbital ATK's Cygnus spacecraft delivers more than 7,600 pounds of cargo Saturday, April 22. Orbital ATK's seventh cargo delivery flight to the station launched at 11:11 a.m. EDT Tuesday on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Read more
Post-Launch Status of Orbital ATK Mission to Space Station
NASA TV to Air Orbital ATK Resupply Mission Launch, Briefings
NASA commercial cargo provider Orbital ATK is targeting its seventh commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station for 11:11 a.m. EDT Tuesday, April 18. Coverage of the launch begins at 10 a.m. on NASA Television and the agency's website. Dubbed S.S. John Glenn, the Cygnus spacecraft name is a tribute to the former astronaut and U.S. Senator from Ohio. It will launch on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Coverage of the spacecraft's solar array deployment will begin at 12:40 p.m. April 18, and will be followed by a 2 p.m. press conference with mission managers. Read more
NASA TV to Air Seventh Orbital ATK Resupply Mission to International Space Station
NASA commercial cargo provider Orbital ATK is targeting its seventh commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station for 9 p.m., EDT Friday, March 24, the start of a 30-minute launch window. Coverage of the launch begins at 8 p.m. on NASA Television and the agency's website. An option exists to move the launch earlier to March 23, if the Eastern Range becomes available. Dubbed S.S. John Glenn, the Cygnus spacecraft name is a tribute to the former astronaut and U.S. Senator from Ohio. Read more