A transporter moves Orbital ATK's enhanced
Cygnus spacecraft, fitted inside the payload fairing of a United Launch
Alliance Atlas V, from the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's
Kennedy Space Center in Florida to Space Launch Complex 41. The Cygnus is a
cargo-only spacecraft that will take about 7,300 pounds of experiments,
equipment and supplies to the International Space Station.
Credits: United Launch Alliance
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NASA commercial partner Orbital ATK has set Thursday, Dec. 3, for
the launch of its fourth contracted mission to the International Space Station
under the agency’s Commercial Resupply Services contract. NASA Television
coverage begins at 4:30 p.m. EST.
NASA confirmed the launch date at the conclusion of Tuesday’s
launch readiness review at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) in Florida.
During the meeting, senior NASA, U.S. Air Force, Orbital ATK and United Launch
Alliance managers assessed the risks associated with the mission and determined
the Orbital ATK Cygnus spacecraft, United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket and
personnel are ready for launch.
Cygnus is set to lift off on the Atlas V at 5:55 p.m., the
beginning of a 30-minute launch window, from CCAFS Space Launch Complex 41.
Cygnus will carry more than 7,000 pounds of science and research, crew supplies
and vehicle hardware to the orbital laboratory to support dozens of
approximately 250 science and research investigations that will occur during
Expeditions 45 and 46. This first Cygnus mission using the Atlas V launch
system provides increased performance and flexibility to the Orbital ATK cargo
delivery service.
In addition to launch coverage, NASA TV will air three
briefings Wednesday, Dec. 2: several experts involved in the launch and mission
will host an interactive discussion with the agency’s social media followers
from 9 to 10:30 a.m.; at 1 p.m., scientists and researchers will discuss some
of the investigations to be delivered; at 2 p.m., mission managers will host a
prelaunch news conference. A post-launch briefing will be held approximately
two hours after launch. All briefings will air live on NASA TV and via
streaming video on the agency's website.
The new experiments arriving to the orbital laboratory will
challenge and inspire future scientists and explorers. Science payloads will
offer a new life science facility that will support studies on cell cultures,
bacteria and other microorganisms; a microsatellite deployer and the first microsatellite
that will be deployed from the space station; and experiments that will study
the behavior of gases and liquids, clarify the thermo-physical properties of
molten steel, and evaluate flame-resistant textiles.
Cygnus also will deliver replacement cargo items including a set
of Microsoft HoloLens devices for use in NASA’s
Sidekick project, a safety jet pack astronauts wear during spacewalks known
as SAFER, and high pressure nitrogen
and oxygen tanks to plug into the station’s air supply network.
This will be the first flight of an enhanced Cygnus spacecraft to
the station. The cargo freighter now features a greater payload capacity, new
UltraFlex solar arrays and new fuel tanks. Cygnus’ pressurized cargo module has
been extended and increases the spacecraft’s interior volume capacity by 25
percent, enabling more cargo to be delivered with each mission.
A Dec. 3 launch will result in the Cygnus spacecraft arriving at
the space station on Sunday, Dec. 6. NASA crew members Kjell Lindgren and Scott
Kelly will use the station's Canadarm2 robotic arm to reach out and capture
Cygnus at approximately 5:30 a.m. NASA TV coverage of rendezvous and grapple of
Cygnus will begin at 4 a.m. Cygnus will be the first cargo ship to be
berthed to the Earth-facing port on the Unity module. Coverage of Cygnus'
installation will begin at 7:15 a.m.
The spacecraft will spend more than a month attached to the space
station before its destructive re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere in January
2016, disposing of about 3,000 pounds of trash.
For an updated schedule of prelaunch briefings, events and NASA TV
coverage, visit:
For NASA TV schedule and video streaming information, visit:
For launch countdown coverage, NASA's launch blog, and more
information about the mission, visit:
For more information about the International Space Station, visit: