Author Topic: Northrop Grumman (formerly Orbital Sciences / Orbital ATK): Cygnus Update Thread  (Read 312263 times)

Online sdsds

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In light of the Progress failure is there any chance Orbital could offer NASA any schedule improvement for Cygnus resupply missions in exchange for additional payments to e.g. expedite availability of components?
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Offline Patchouli

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In light of the Progress failure is there any chance Orbital could offer NASA any schedule improvement for Cygnus resupply missions in exchange for additional payments to e.g. expedite availability of components?

I wonder if early Cygnus vehicles could be launched on an Atlas to get one flying before Taurus II is ready?

Online ugordan

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At this stage in the game? No.

Offline robertross

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per flight aware, appears it has arrived:

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/VDA1396

And it flew right overhead of my province  :)

Offline mr. mark

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Cygnus Module.

Offline jacqmans

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RELEASE: 11-276

CYGNUS SPACE STATION CARGO CARRIER ARRIVES AT NASA WALLOPS

WASHINGTON -- NASA's work to help develop the next generation of
commercial space transportation systems reached another significant
achievement yesterday with the arrival at Wallops Flight Facility in
Virginia of the Cygnus Pressurized Cargo Module, Orbital Science
Corp.'s spacecraft to carry supplies to the International Space
Station.

"This is one more important step in our partnership with U.S. private
industry to build safe, reliable and cost effective cargo
transportation systems," said Philip McAlister, acting director of
commercial spaceflight development at NASA Headquarters in
Washington. "We are pleased that Orbital has made this accomplishment
and look forward to the company flying the Cygnus spacecraft in
2012."

During the next several months, Orbital's engineering team will
integrate the pressurized module with the Cygnus service module that
includes the spacecraft's avionics, propulsion and power systems.

The Cygnus spacecraft is scheduled for a demonstration flight from
Wallops early next year on an Orbital Taurus II launch vehicle under
NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services agreement with the
company.

For information about NASA's commercial space transportation efforts,
visit:


http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial/index.html


For images and information about the Cygnus arrival, visit:


http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/news/cygnus-arrives.html 

       
-end-
Jacques :-)

Offline jacqmans

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ORBITAL'S CYGNUS CARGO MODULE ARRIVES AT NASA'S WALLOPS FLIGHT FACILITY

-- Pressurized Cargo Module Built by Thales Alenia Space to be Flown on
COTS Demonstration Mission in Early 2012 --

(Dulles, VA 25 August 2011) - Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB), one
of the world's leading space technology companies, today announced that the
first pressurized cargo module (PCM) for its Cygnus™ cargo logistics
spacecraft has arrived at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in eastern
Virginia.  Following a transatlantic flight from its manufacturing location
in Italy, the PCM was unloaded from the Antonov An-26 transport aircraft in
its specialized shipping container and was brought to NASA's H-100 payload
processing facility where it will be uncrated later this week and prepared
for integration with the spacecraft service module.  Together, the PCM and
the service module will form the first operational Cygnus that will be
launched to the International Space Station (ISS) to carry out a
demonstration mission under the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services
(COTS) joint NASA and Orbital research and development program.

"The arrival of the first pressurized cargo module at Wallops is an
important milestone for the Cygnus program, signifying that we are making
great progress toward carrying out the COTS demonstration mission early
next year," said Mr. Frank DeMauro, Orbital's Cygnus Program Manager.
"With the first fully-assembled service module currently in testing at our
Dulles, Virginia satellite design and production facilities, it won't be
too long before both of the major elements are united at Wallops for final
system integration, followed by integration with the Taurus II rocket that
will launch Cygnus to the International Space Station."

The PCM was manufactured and tested by Thales Alenia Space (TAS) in Italy.
Orbital selected TAS because of its unrivaled experience in designing and
building pressurized space modules for the ISS.  TAS is already well along
in manufacturing and testing the next three PCM units for the Cygnus
program, ensuring on-schedule deliveries of a critical element of the
spacecraft.  For the COTS demonstration and the first two operational
Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) missions, the PCM is designed to carry
approximately 2,000 kg of cargo.  For later missions, an enhanced PCM will
carry about 2,700 kg of cargo.

 About Cygnus

The Cygnus advanced maneuvering spacecraft is being developed by Orbital to
demonstrate cargo delivery services under the COTS agreement and to carry
out ISS resupply flights under the $1.9 billion CRS contract, which
encompasses eight missions between 2012 and 2015 carrying approximately
20,000 kg of cargo to the ISS.

The Cygnus system is a low-risk design incorporating elements drawn from
Orbital and its partners' existing, flight-proven space systems
technologies.  Cygnus consists of an advanced service module and a PCM. The
service module incorporates avionics, power and propulsion systems from
Orbital's flight-proven LEOStar™ and GEOStar™ satellite product lines.
Based on NASA's requirements, it will deliver crew supplies, scientific
experiments and equipment, spares parts and other essential cargo to the
ISS.
Jacques :-)

Offline Space Pete

NASA TV Video: Commercial Cargo Module Arrives at Wallops.



NASA photos of the PCM arrival are here: http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial/cygnus-arrives.html
« Last Edit: 08/25/2011 05:40 pm by Space Pete »
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Offline Jose

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I love the guy going "stop. No, really, Stop! How about stop?"
(holds his arms crossed above his head, truck keeps backing up anyway)



Offline kevin-rf

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Looks a little boxy, must be the jet lag ;)
If you're happy and you know it,
It's your med's!

Online Chris Bergin

I've written up the arrival of the PCM, and noted an important message associated with it on this specific article thread :)

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=26577.0
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Offline Zed_Noir

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ORBITAL'S CYGNUS CARGO MODULE ARRIVES AT NASA'S WALLOPS FLIGHT FACILITY

-- Pressurized Cargo Module Built by Thales Alenia Space to be Flown on
COTS Demonstration Mission in Early 2012 --

(Dulles, VA 25 August 2011) - Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB), one
of the world's leading space technology companies, today announced that the
first pressurized cargo module (PCM) for its Cygnus™ cargo logistics
spacecraft has arrived at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in eastern
Virginia.  Following a transatlantic flight from its manufacturing location
in Italy, the PCM was unloaded from the Antonov An-26 transport aircraft in
its specialized shipping container and was brought to NASA's H-100 payload
processing facility where it will be uncrated later this week and prepared
for integration with the spacecraft service module.  Together, the PCM and
the service module will form the first operational Cygnus that will be
launched to the International Space Station (ISS) to carry out a
demonstration mission under the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services
(COTS) joint NASA and Orbital research and development program.


I believe that's an Antonov An-124 transport. The An-26 Curl is a light twin turbo-prop tactical airlifter.

Online sdsds

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Allow me please to ask this again, with more specificity.  As of July 2011, the Cygnus COTS/CRS schedule is:
 - 2011Q4: Taurus II test flight
 - 2012Q1: COTS demonstration mission
 - 2012Q2: CRS mission 1
 - 2012Q3: -- nothing --
 - 2012Q4 CRS mission 2

Given the Progress failure, is there a way to guess the incremental cost increase to Orbital (and the price increase to NASA) of CRS mission 2 if it were moved forward into 2012Q3?
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Offline antonioe

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CYGNUS HITS THE BRAKES - UNEXPECTED PCM SPEED LIMITATION!!!

Upon opening the shipping container for the Thales Alenia Space (Italy) - built Pressurized cargo module, Orbital engineers were dismayed to find a speed placard for the unit.  This makes it unlikely that it could reach orbital speeds.
ARS LONGA, VITA BREVIS...

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Offline kevin-rf

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I fully expect a full congressional investigation to why Cygnus is limited to 4km/h ;)

Can we put it on Steroids?
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It's your med's!

Offline Lurker Steve

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I fully expect a full congressional investigation to why Cygnus is limited to 4km/h ;)

Can we put it on Steroids?

That has to be the slowest Italian-built vehicle ever. Why does the Bieber get a faster Italian vehicle than us ?

Offline JWag

The "Z" is next to the "Y"; the vehicle was clearly built 90 degrees off.  :o

Lovely shot of the hatch latching mechanism.

Offline Space Pete

CYGNUS HITS THE BRAKES - UNEXPECTED PCM SPEED LIMITATION!!!

Upon opening the shipping container for the Thales Alenia Space (Italy) - built Pressurized cargo module, Orbital engineers were dismayed to find a speed placard for the unit.  This makes it unlikely that it could reach orbital speeds.

Now that, sir, is one good looking spacecraft. I love that baby CBM hatch. :D
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Offline Robotbeat

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CYGNUS HITS THE BRAKES - UNEXPECTED PCM SPEED LIMITATION!!!

Upon opening the shipping container for the Thales Alenia Space (Italy) - built Pressurized cargo module, Orbital engineers were dismayed to find a speed placard for the unit.  This makes it unlikely that it could reach orbital speeds.

Now that, sir, is one good looking spacecraft. I love that baby CBM hatch. :D
What is the size of the hatch, by the way?
Chris  Whoever loves correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

To the maximum extent practicable, the Federal Government shall plan missions to accommodate the space transportation services capabilities of United States commercial providers. US law http://goo.gl/YZYNt0

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