Orbital ATK Cygnus Spacecraft Reaches International Space Station

A computer overlay with engineering data provides video of the Canadarm2 robotic arm maneuvering to capture the Orbital ATK Cygnus space freighter. Photo: NASA TV

[Via Satellite 03-28-2016] Orbital ATK’s Cygnus spacecraft, launched March 22 on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas 5 rocket, rendezvoused and berthed with the International Space Station (ISS) on March 26. Cygnus will remain at the ISS for approximately two months before departing with approximately 4,400 pounds (2,000 kilograms) of disposable cargo.

Following departure from the ISS, Cygnus will conduct three payload mission objectives. Using a NanoRacks-provided deployer, the spacecraft will place five CubeSats into orbit to conduct their own autonomous missions. Onboard Cygnus, the Spacecraft Fire Experiment-I (Saffire-I) will intentionally light a large-scale fire that will grow and advance until it burns itself out. The final experiment is the Reentry Breakup Recorder (REBR). The ISS crew will install the REBR experiment on Cygnus as they pack the spacecraft with disposal cargo. REBR will measure and record data during Cygnus’ safe, destructive reentry into Earth’s atmosphere.

Orbital ATK’s OA-6 mission is the company’s fifth successful berthing with the orbiting laboratory, and the fourth under NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract. The company has two additional CRS missions scheduled in 2016.