Wikipedia

Cygnus (spacecraft)

Cygnus is an expendable American automated cargo spacecraft designed for International Space Station (ISS) resupply missions. It was initially developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation with financial support from NASA under the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program. To create Cygnus, Orbital paired a pressurized cargo module, largely based on the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module, built by Thales Alenia Space and previously used by the Space Shuttle for ISS resupply, with a service module based on Orbital's GEOStar, a satellite bus. After a successful demonstration flight in 2013, Orbital was chosen to receive a Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract. A larger Enhanced Cygnus was introduced in 2015. Orbital Sciences merged into Orbital ATK in 2015; Northrop Grumman purchased Orbital ATK in 2018 and has continued to operate Cygnus missions. A further enlarged Mission B Cygnus is expected to be introduced in 2025.

Cygnus
Silver cylindrical spacecraft with gold solar panels amid the blackness of space
Enhanced Cygnus spacecraft approaching the International Space Station for the NG-12 mission
Manufacturer
Country of originUnited States
Operator
  • Orbital Sciences (2013–2015)
  • Orbital ATK (2015–2018)
  • Northrop Grumman (2018–present)
ApplicationsISS resupply
Specifications
Spacecraft typeCargo
BusStar Bus
Dry massStandard: 1,500 kg (3,300 lb)
Enhanced: 1,800 kg (4,000 lb)[2]
Payload capacityStandard: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb)
Enhanced: 3,500 kg (7,700 lb)[2]
Mission B: 5,000 kg (11,000 lb)[3]
VolumeStandard: 18.9 m3 (670 cu ft)
Enhanced: 27 m3 (950 cu ft)[2]
Mission B: 36 m3 (1,300 cu ft)[4]
Power3.5 kW
Design life1 week to 2 years[1]
Dimensions
LengthStandard: 5.14 m (16.9 ft)
Enhanced: 6.39 m (21.0 ft)[2]
Mission B: 7.89 m (25.9 ft)[3]
Diameter3.07 m (10.1 ft)[2]
Production
StatusIn service
On order4
Built22
Launched22
Operational1 (NG-21)
Retired20
Lost1 (Orb-3)
Maiden launch18 September 2013
Last launch4 August 2024
Related spacecraft
Launch vehicleAntares

Cygnus is typically launched using its parent company's Antares rocket from the Wallops Flight Facility in Virgina, however it is able to fly on other launch vehicles. After the failure of an Antares rocket destroyed Cygnus CRS Flight 3 and damaged the Wallops facility, two Cygnus missions were launched with Atlas V rockets in 2015 and 2016. Additionally, two Cygnus missions have launched on the Falcon 9 rocket in 2024 with one more scheduled to launch in 2025, operated by CRS competitor SpaceX.

In addition to Cygnus, ISS resupply missions have been flown by the Russian Progress spacecraft, the European Automated Transfer Vehicle, the Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle and the American SpaceX Dragon.

Cygnus is the Greek word for swan and the name of a constellation.

Development

edit
 
Then-NASA Administrator Charles Bolden (third from left) in front of the Cygnus spacecraft in May 2012

After the retirement of the Space Shuttle was announced, NASA began to look for commercial space launch companies who could fly cargo to the ISS. In early 2006, the agency started its Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program, where it would help fund the development of cargo spacecraft after a competitive process. SpaceX and Rocketplane Kistler won contracts in the COTS program, however Rocketplane Kistler failed to meet several financial milestones and on 18 October 2007, NASA announced it would terminate its contract and re-award it after a second competition.[5][6]

Orbital Sciences Corporation participated in this second round, proposing a largely "off-the-shelf" design. The spacecraft, named Cygnus, would be built around a service module based on Orbital's Star Bus, a satellite bus in use since 1997, which would be attached to a pressurized cargo module built by Thales Alenia Space, which had also built the MPLM cargo module used by the Space Shuttle, the cargo module for the European ATV spacecraft and several permanent modules on the ISS.[7]

Cygnus was awarded a COTS contract worth $170 million in February 2008, which was later increased to $288 million. On 23 December 2008, NASA awarded Orbital Sciences a $1.9 billion contract under the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) program. Under this contract, Orbital Sciences agreed to deliver up to 20 tons of cargo to the ISS through 2016 in eight Cygnus spacecraft flights.[8]

To propel Cygnus into space, Orbital developed the Antares rocket, which also leveraged lower-cost, off-the-shelf parts and designs. Construction and design of the first stage was subcontracted to Ukrainian companies and used refurbished NK-33 engines, remnants of the Soviet N1 moon rocket. The second stage was the Castor 30, which Orbital had previously used on another rocket project (the Minotaur-C) and was based on a Peacekeeper ICBM first stage.

The first Cygnus flight was originally planned to occur in December 2010, but was repeatedly delayed.[9][10] The Antares made its maiden flight lifting a payload mass simulator to low Earth orbit on April 21, 2013. On September 18, 2013, Antares successfully launched a Cygnus spacecraft on a flight test to rendezvous with the International Space Station.[11] On 12 January 2014, the first scheduled Cygnus resupply mission arrived at the space station; the capsule carried Christmas presents and fresh fruit for the astronauts. Its arrival was delayed, first by the need to repair the station, and then by frigid weather at the launch site and solar flares that forced postponements.[11][12]

With the December 2015 launch of Orb CRS-4 on Atlas V, the enhanced version of Cygnus made its debut. While it was planned from the beginning to fly on the fifth mission, the Orb CRS-3 failure and subsequent move to Atlas V meant a delay. However, lessons learned on packing and the extra capabilities of the Atlas allowed payload to be increased to 3,500 kg (7,700 lb).[13]

Design

edit
 
A scale drawing of the Standard (left) and Enhanced (right) Cygnus

The Cygnus spacecraft consists of two basic components: the Service Module (SM) and the Pressurized Cargo Module (PCM).

The SM was based on prior products developed by Orbital including the GEOStar and LEOStar (collectively known as Star Bus) satellite buses and the Dawn spacecraft. It has a gross mass of 1,800 kg (4,000 lb), 32 thrusters for attitude control and one BT-4 main engine[14] fuelled with 800 kg (1,800 lb) of hypergolic propellants, hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide.[15][16] The SM is capable of producing up to 4 kW of electrical power via two solar arrays.[17][18]

 
The Standard Cygnus being unberthed from the Harmony module

The PCM is manufactured by Thales Alenia Space in Turin, Italy. The first "Standard" PCMs had a length of 5.14 meters (16.9 ft), a payload capacity of 2,000 kilograms (4,400 lb), and a pressurized cargo volume of 18.9 cubic metres (670 cu ft).[17]

The fourth and all subsequent Cygnus spacecraft are the "Enhanced" variant.[18] These have a stretched PCM with a length of 6.39 meters (21.0 ft), a payload capacity of 3,500 kilograms (7,700 lb), an increase of 32%, and a pressurized cargo volume of 27 cubic metres (950 cu ft), an increase of 19.5%.[19] To launch the added weight, Orbital used the more powerful Castor 30XL solid-fuel rocket as a second-stage.

Starting in mid-2025, a further enlarged "Mission B" Cygnus will be introduced with a length of 7.89 meters (25.9 ft), a payload capacity of 5,000 kilograms (11,000 lb), an increase of 19.5%, and a pressurized cargo volume of 36 cubic metres (1,300 cu ft), an increase of 15.5%.[3]

During a typical CRS missions, Cygnus maneuvers close to the International Space Station, where the Canadarm2 robotic arm grapples the spacecraft and berths it to a Common Berthing Mechanism, typically the nadir port of the Unity module.[17]

Cygnus does not provide cargo return capability. However, it can be loaded with obsolete equipment and trash which will burn up as the Cygnus makes a destructive reentry.[20]

An earlier proposed version of Cygnus would have replaced the PCM with the Unpressurized Cargo Module (UCM), based on NASA's ExPRESS Logistics Carrier, and would have been used to transport unpressurized cargo, such as ISS Orbital Replacement Units.[9][21] Another proposed variant would have replaced the PCM with the Return Cargo Module (RCM), which would have allowed Cygnus to return cargo to Earth.[9]

In August 2023, Northrop Grumman announced a further enlarged Mission B version of Cygnus, with a 1.5 m (4.9 ft) stretch to the payload module and payload mass increased to 5,000 kg (11,000 lb). This version is expected to enter service with the NG-23 mission in 2025 (the first to use the new Antares 330 launch vehicle).[3]

Lunar Gateway module variant

edit

In August 2019, NASA decided to sole source its design for the Minimal Habitation Module (Habitation and Logistics Outpost, or HALO) of the Lunar Gateway to Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, which offered a minimalist 6.1 m (20 ft) by 3 m (9.8 ft) design based directly on the Enhanced Cygnus, as well as a larger 7 m (23 ft) by 4.4 m (14 ft) design[22][23] having radial docking ports, body-mounted radiators (BMRs), batteries and communications antennas added on the outside. Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems opted to build the minimalist design, which offered the advantage of component compatibility and expedited testing of life support systems on existing Cygnus spacecraft.[24][25] On 5 June 2020, NASA awarded Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems a $187 million contract to complete the preliminary design of HALO. NASA will sign a separate contract with Northrop for the fabrication of the HALO, and for integration with the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE), being built by Maxar.[24][25]

Missions

edit

The following list includes only missions that have flown and six planned missions. As of August 2024 one more mission is planned to be launched on the Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40, and three from Wallops on an Antares 330. Cygnus is the only cargo freighter to launch on four different launch vehicles: the Antares 100 series, Atlas V, Antares 200 series and Falcon 9 Block 5.[26] Each mission is named for a notable member of the Human spaceflight community.

# Mission Patch Payload Variant Launch date (UTC) Rocket Payload mass Outcome Ref.
1 Orb-D1
G. David Low 		Orbital Sciences COTS Demo Flight Standard 18 September 2013, 14:58:00 Antares 110 1,299 lb (589 kg) Success [27][28][29][30]
First Cygnus mission, first mission to rendezvous with ISS, first mission to berth with ISS, second launch of Antares. Docking to ISS delayed due to a computer data link problem,[31] which was later was resolved.[32]
2 Orb-1
C. Gordon Fullerton 		  Orbital Sciences CRS Flight 1 Standard 9 January 2014, 18:07:05 Antares 120 2,780 lb (1,260 kg) Success [28][29][33][30]
First Commercial Resupply Service (CRS) mission for Cygnus, first Antares launch using the Castor 30B upper stage.
3 Orb-2
Janice E. Voss 		  Orbital Sciences CRS Flight 2 Standard 13 July 2014, 16:52:14 Antares 120 3,293 lb (1,494 kg) Success [29][30]
4 Orb-3
Deke Slayton 		  Orbital Sciences CRS Flight 3 Standard 28 October 2014, 22:22:38 Antares 130 4,883 lb (2,215 kg) Failure [34][30]
First Antares launch to use Castor 30XL upperstage. Suffered a catastrophic anomaly resulting in an explosion shortly after launch, damaging launch pad. Contents of the cargo included food and packages for the crew, parts, experiments, and the Arkyd-3 flight test system from Planetary Resources.
5 OA-4
Deke Slayton II 		  Orbital ATK CRS Flight 4 Enhanced 6 December 2015, 21:44:57 Atlas V 401 7,746 lb (3,514 kg) Success [35][36][30]
First flight of Enhanced Cygnus spacecraft. Due to damage at launch pad after the explosion of the Antares rocket carrying Orb-3, Orbital contracted with United Launch Alliance to launch this Cygnus on an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. First of three missions to fly on an Atlas V rocket.
6 OA-6
Rick Husband 		  Orbital ATK CRS Flight 6 Enhanced 23 March 2016, 03:05:52 Atlas V 401 7,758 lb (3,519 kg) Success [35][37][36][38][30]
Second of three missions to fly on an Atlas V rocket.
7 OA-5
Alan Poindexter 		  Orbital ATK CRS Flight 5 Enhanced 17 October 2016, 23:45:36 Antares 230 5,163 lb (2,342 kg) Success [39][40][41]
First flight of an Antares 200 series rocket.
8 OA-7
John Glenn 		  Orbital ATK CRS Flight 7 Enhanced 18 April 2017, 15:11:26 Atlas V 401 7,443 lb (3,376 kg) Success [42][43][37][36][38][30]
Third of three missions to fly on an Atlas V rocket.
9 OA-8E
Gene Cernan 		  Orbital ATK CRS Flight 8 Enhanced 12 November 2017, 12:19:51 Antares 230 7,359 lb (3,338 kg) Success [44][43][37][36][38]
11 November 2017, launch was scrubbed just before launch when a general aviation aircraft entered the hazard zone and did not respond to calls.[45]
10 OA-9E
J.R. Thompson 		  Orbital ATK CRS Flight 9 Enhanced 21 May 2018, 08:44:06 Antares 230 7,385 lb (3,350 kg) Success [46][47]
First a commercial vehicle to perform ISS reboosting when, at 20:25 UTC on July 10, 2018, Cygnus's main engine was fired for about 50 seconds. Raised ISS altitude by about 295 ft (90 m).[48]
11 NG-10
John Young 		  Northrop Grumman CRS Flight 10 Enhanced 17 November 2018, 09:01:31 Antares 230 7,386 lb (3,350 kg) Success [49][50]
12 NG-11
Roger Chaffee 		  Northrop Grumman CRS Flight 11 Enhanced 17 April 2019, 20:46:07 Antares 230 7,575 lb (3,436 kg) Success [51]
13 NG-12
Alan Bean 		  Northrop Grumman CRS Flight 12 Enhanced 2 November 2019, 13:59:47 Antares 230+ 8,221 lb (3,729 kg) Success
14 NG-13
Robert H. Lawrence 		  Northrop Grumman CRS Flight 13 Enhanced 15 February 2020, 20:21:01 Antares 230+ 8,009 lb (3,633 kg) Success [52]
9 February 2020 launch attempt scrubbed due to a ground support issue.[53]
15 NG-14
Kalpana Chawla 		  Northrop Grumman CRS Flight 14 Enhanced 3 October 2020, 01:16:14 Antares 230+ 7,624 lb (3,458 kg) Success [54]
1 October 2020 launch attempt delayed due to boat in range,[55] later scrubbed due to a ground support issue.[56]
16 NG-15
Katherine Johnson 		  Northrop Grumman CRS Flight 15 Enhanced 20 February 2021, 17:36:50 Antares 230+ 8,400 lb (3,800 kg) Success
17 NG-16
Ellison Onizuka 		  Northrop Grumman CRS Flight 16 Enhanced 10 August 2021, 22:01:05 Antares 230+ 8,208 lb (3,723 kg) Success [57]
18 NG-17
Piers Sellers 		  Northrop Grumman CRS Flight 17 Enhanced 19 February 2022, 17:40:03 Antares 230+ 8,049 lb (3,651 kg) Success
Performed the first operational reboost of ISS by a commercial vehicle on 25 June 2022 after it was aborted after few seconds on 20 June 2022.[58][59]
19 NG-18
Sally Ride 		  Northrop Grumman CRS Flight 18 Enhanced 7 November 2022, 10:32:42 Antares 230+ 8,173 lb (3,707 kg) Success [60][61][62]
6 November 2022 launch attempt scrubbed due to fire alarm in mission control.[63]
20 NG-19
Laurel Clark 		  Northrop Grumman CRS Flight 19 Enhanced 2 August 2023, 00:31:14 Antares 230+ 8,345 lb (3,785 kg) Success [64][61]
Final flight on an Antares 200 series rocket.
21 NG-20
Patricia "Patty" Hilliard Robertson 		  Northrop Grumman CRS Flight 20 Enhanced 30 January 2024, 17:07:15 Falcon 9 Block 5 (B1077.10) 8,345 lb (3,785 kg) Success [65]
Northrop Grumman contracted with SpaceX to launch this Cygnus on a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. First of three missions to fly on an Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket.
22 NG-21
Francis R. "Dick" Scobee 		  Northrop Grumman CRS Flight 21 Enhanced 4 August 2024, 15:02:23 Falcon 9 Block 5 (B1080.10) 8,503 lb (3,857 kg) In orbit [66]
Second of three missions to fly on an Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket.
23 NG-22
TBA 		Northrop Grumman CRS Flight 22 Enhanced February 2025 Falcon 9 Block 5 TBA Planned [67]
Third of three missions to fly on an Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket.
24 NG-23
TBA 		Northrop Grumman CRS Flight 23 Mission B August 2025 Antares 330 TBA Planned [68][3]
Scheduled to be the first flight of an Antares 300 series rocket and first flight of a Mission B Cygnus spacecraft.
25 NG-24
TBA 		Northrop Grumman CRS Flight 24 Mission B Q4 2025[69] Antares 330 TBA Planned
26 NG-25
TBA 		Northrop Grumman CRS Flight 25 Mission B 2026[70] Antares 330 TBA Planned

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "The Annual Compendium of Commercial Space Transportation: 2012" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. February 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e Blau, Patrick. "Cygnus". Spaceflight101. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
  3. ^ a b c d e Foust, Jeff (3 August 2023). "Northrop Grumman planning Cygnus upgrades". SpaceNews. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  4. ^ Parsonson, Andrew (2024-05-14). "Thales Alenia Space Delivers Pressurized Module for 21st Cygnus Spacecraft". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  5. ^ "Time Runs out for RpK; New COTS Competition Starts Immediately". Space.com. 2007-10-19. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  6. ^ Bergin, Chris (2008-02-19). "Orbital beat a dozen competitors to win NASA COTS contract". NASASpaceflight.com. Retrieved 2015-08-14.
  7. ^ "Cygnus". eoPortal. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  8. ^ "NASA Taps SpaceX, Orbital Sciences to Haul Cargo to Space Station". Space.com. 2008-12-23. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  9. ^ a b c "Space Act Agreement with NASA and Orbital for COTS" (PDF). NASA. 2008-02-27. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-04-07. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
  10. ^ "Orbital Sciences To Build Taurus II". AviationWeek.com. Archived from the original on 2011-05-21. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  11. ^ a b Byerly, Josh; Perrotto, Trent J. (September 2013). "NASA Partner Orbital Sciences Launches Demonstration Mission to Space Station". Press RELEASE 13-284 (Press release). NASA. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  12. ^ "Christmas delivery finally for space station". January 12, 2014.
  13. ^ Gebhardt, Chris (2015-08-31). "Enhanced Cygnus to help Orbital ATK meet CRS contract by 2017". NASASpaceflight.com. Retrieved 2015-08-31.
  14. ^ "ISS: Cygnus".
  15. ^ "The Cygnus cargo ship".
  16. ^ "NG-14 Mission Profile" (PDF). Northrop Grumman. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  17. ^ a b c "ISS Payload Opportunities on Cygnus" (PDF). Orbital Sciences Corporation. 2015. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  18. ^ a b "Cygnus Enhanced Spacecraft to Use Ultraflex Solar Arrays". Orbital Sciences. November 2011. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
  19. ^ Bergin, Chris (2012-02-22). "Space industry giants Orbital upbeat ahead of Antares debut". NasaSpaceflight (not affiliated with NASA). Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  20. ^ "Cygnus Advanced Manoeuvring Spacecraft Fact Sheet" (PDF). European Space Agency. 2010-09-01. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  21. ^ Whitesides, Loretta (2008-02-20). "Orbital Sciences Scores NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) Award Worth $170M". Wired. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
  22. ^ Foust, Jeff (23 July 2019). "NASA to sole source Gateway habitation module to Northrop Grumman". SpaceNews. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  23. ^ Messier, Doug (23 July 2019). "NASA Awards Contract to Northrop Grumman for Gateway Habitat Module". Parabolic Arc. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  24. ^ a b "NASA signs Gateway habitat design contract with Northrop Grumman". Spaceflight Now. 9 June 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  25. ^ a b Gebhardt, Chris (7 August 2020). "Northrop Grumman outlines HALO plans for Gateway's central module". NASASpaceflight.com. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  26. ^ Evans, Ben (12 August 2022). "Antares 330 Targets NET Mid-2024 Launch, SpaceX to Fly Three Cygnus Missions". AmericaSpace. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  27. ^ "First flight of Cygnus cargo craft delayed to September". Spaceflight Now. 6 May 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  28. ^ a b Pearlman, Robert Z. (9 December 2013). "Orbital Sciences Names Next Private Space Station Freighter for NASA Astronaut". collectSpace.com. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  29. ^ a b c "Worldwide launch schedule". spaceflightnow.com. Archived from the original on 11 September 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g Justin Ray (4 November 2016). "Atlas 5 rocket to launch space station cargo delivery mission in March". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  31. ^ "Computer mishap delays space station supply ship, Va. company says arrival at least 2 days off". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 22 September 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  32. ^ Bergin, Chris (2013-09-28). "Orbital's Cygnus successfully berthed on the ISS". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  33. ^ "ISS Commercial Resupply Services Mission (Orb-1)". Orbital Sciences. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  34. ^ "Worldwide launch schedule". spaceflightnow.com. Archived from the original on 11 September 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  35. ^ a b Kramer, Miriam (2014-12-09). "Private Cargo Spacecraft Gets New Rocket Ride After Accident". Space.com. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
  36. ^ a b c d "Orbital ATK Team on Track for Fall 2015 Cygnus Mission and Antares Return to Flight in 2016". Orbital ATK. 2015-08-12. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
  37. ^ a b c "Orbital ATK Updates Progress on International Space Station Cargo Delivery Program for NASA". Orbital ATK. 2015-08-12. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
  38. ^ a b c "Orbital ATK Orders Second Atlas 5, Leaves Door Open for More". SpaceNews.com. 2015-08-12. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
  39. ^ Foust, Jeff (13 September 2016). "Antares return to flight now planned for early October". spacenews.com. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  40. ^ NASA (30 March 2015). "Orbital ATK Launch Updates". Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  41. ^ "Cygnus Attached to Station's Unity Module | Space Station". blogs.nasa.gov. Archived from the original on 2019-05-07. Retrieved 2016-10-24.
  42. ^ Ray, Justin (4 June 2017). "S.S. John Glenn freighter departs space station after successful cargo delivery". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  43. ^ a b "Cargo Resupply Services". Orbital Sciences. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  44. ^ Clark, Stephen (28 April 2017). "Launch Schedule". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  45. ^ Campbell, Lloyd (11 November 2017). "Antares OA-8 Launch Scrubbed". SpaceFlight Insider. Archived from the original on 11 November 2017.
  46. ^ Clark, Stephen (21 May 2018). "Antares rocket launch kicks off space station's next commercial cargo delivery". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  47. ^ Clark, Stephen (15 July 2018). "Cygnus cargo ship released from space station, heads for extended mission". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  48. ^ "Northrop Grumman's OA-9 Cygnus leaves International Space Station". 15 July 2018.
  49. ^ Leone, Dan (2015-08-17). "NASA Orders Two More ISS Cargo Missions From Orbital ATK". SpaceNews.com. Retrieved 2015-08-17.
  50. ^ "NG-10 Antares rocket launches successfully from NASA Wallops to ISS". Delmarva Daily Times. Retrieved 2018-11-17.
  51. ^ Clark, Stephen. "Live coverage: Countdown begins for Antares launch from Virginia – Spaceflight Now". Retrieved 2019-04-17.
  52. ^ Yan, Isabelle (14 February 2020). "Latest Weather Update for Northrop Grumman's CRS-13 Launch: 85% Favorable". nasa.gov. NASA. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  53. ^ Bartels, Meghan; Malik, Tariq (9 February 2020). "Northrop Grumman aborts Cygnus cargo launch to space station". Space.com.
  54. ^ Gohd, Chelsea (2 October 2020). "Antares rocket launches new astronaut toilet and more to space station for NASA". Space.com. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  55. ^ Powers, Kelly (2 October 2020). "NASA Wallops scrubs NG-14 mission rocket launch toward ISS Thursday". The Daily Times. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  56. ^ Malik, Tariq (2 October 2020). "Northrop Grumman aborts launch of Antares rocket carrying NASA cargo minutes before liftoff". Space.com. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  57. ^ "NASA Invites Media to Northrop Grumman's August Launch from Virginia". NASA (Press release). 7 July 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  58. ^ "Northrop Grumman rocket launches Cygnus cargo ship on 2-day trip to space station". Space.com. 19 February 2022.
  59. ^ "Schedule of ISS flight events (part 2)". forum.nasaspaceflight.com. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
  60. ^ Garner, Rob (7 November 2022). "Liftoff of Northrop Grumman's CRS-18 Antares Rocket – NASA's Northrop Grumman CRS-18 Commercial Resupply Mission". NASA Blogs. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  61. ^ a b Clark, Stephen (15 April 2023). "Launch Schedule". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  62. ^ Mars, Kelli (November 2022). "Overview for Northrop Grumman's 18th Commercial Resupply Mission". NASA. Archived from the original on 7 November 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  63. ^ Garner, Rob (6 November 2022). "Today's Launch Postponed – NASA's Northrop Grumman CRS-18 Commercial Resupply Mission". NASA Blogs. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  64. ^ Grey, Charles (2023-08-03). "Northrop Grumman Launch Marks 10 Years of ISS Resupply Missions". AIR SPACE News. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
  65. ^ Robinson-Smith, Will (30 January 2024). "SpaceX launches Northrop Grumman's Cygnus spacecraft on its way to the Space Station". Spaceflight Now.
  66. ^ "Falcon 9 Block 5 – CRS NG-21". Next Spaceflight. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  67. ^ Baylor, Michael. "Falcon 9 Block 5 – CRS NG-22". Next Spaceflight. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  68. ^ "Antares 330 – CRS NG-23". Next Spaceflight. 30 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  69. ^ "Antares 330 – CRS NG-24". Next Spaceflight. 30 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  70. ^ Baylor, Michael. "Antares 330 – CRS NG-25". Next Spaceflight. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
edit
 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cygnus spacecraft.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cygnus_(spacecraft)&oldid=1255102010"