https://www.orbitalatk.com/news-room/feature-stories/OA8-Mission-Page/Documents/FS004_17_Cygnus_OA-8.pdfQuoteCygnus will remain berthed for approximately one month to allow the astronauts on Space Station to perform the transfer of the lab to Cygnus and then back to the station where it will remain.
Cygnus will remain berthed for approximately one month to allow the astronauts on Space Station to perform the transfer of the lab to Cygnus and then back to the station where it will remain.
Nov. 3, 2017Antares Set for Launch Saturday, Nov. 11NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility and Virginia’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport are set to support the launch of Orbital ATK’s Antares rocket at 7:37 a.m. EST, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017.The Antares rocket will carry Orbital ATK’s Cygnus spacecraft with more than 7,000 pounds of food, clothing and experiments on the CRS-8 mission to the International Space Station.The launch may be visible, weather permitting, to residents throughout the east coast of the United States.Public viewing of the launch will be available at the NASA Visitor Center at Wallops and the surrounding area. Visitors are reminded that alcohol and pets are not allowed on the Visitor Center grounds. The NASA Visitor Center will open at 3:30 a.m. on Nov. 11.For more information about the Visitors Center, including directions, see: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/visitorcenterLive coverage of the mission is scheduled to begin at 1:15 a.m. on the Wallops Ustream site at:http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-tv-wallopsLaunch updates also are available via the Wallops Facebook and Twitter sites:www.facebook.com/NASAWFFwww.twitter.com/NASA_WallopsSmartphone users can download the “What’s Up at Wallops” app, which contains information on the launch as well as a compass showing the precise direction for launch viewing. The app is available for download to both Android and iOS users.Launch coverage on NASA TV will begin at 7 a.m. EST. For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and scheduling information, visit:http://www.nasa.gov/nasatvFor more information about International Space Station, visit:http://www.nasa.gov/stationGet more information about Orbital ATK, its Antares rocket and the Cygnus cargo spacecraft at:http://www.nasa.gov/orbitalKeith KoehlerNASA’s Wallops Flight Facility
Need to test the Cygnus systems. One step at a time.
Quote from: RonM on 11/01/2017 02:02 amNeed to test the Cygnus systems. One step at a time.And what's the next step? Using Cygnus as a free-floating lab? Increasing the ISS' total lab space by having a Cygnus regularly attached and being replaced a la Progress when its 90 day orbital lifetime expires? Both? Or something else?
Quote from: Salo on 11/03/2017 09:56 ammid-December - Cygnus (OA-8) with TangoLab unberthing (from Unity nadir) and releasing by SSRMS2018early - Cygnus (OA-8) with TangoLab capture and berthing (to Unity nadir) by SSRMSThese two items seem to suggest that Cygnus (OA-8) will be performing a freeflying experiment with TangoLab aboard (given the release in mid-Dec. and recapture and berthing in early 2018). Where is that info coming from? In the mission factsheet posted just above, it only mentions moving TangoLab into the Cygnus and then offloading it back into ISS while Cygnus remains berthed to the station. No info on releasing and recapture of Cygnus, etc.
mid-December - Cygnus (OA-8) with TangoLab unberthing (from Unity nadir) and releasing by SSRMS2018early - Cygnus (OA-8) with TangoLab capture and berthing (to Unity nadir) by SSRMS
Late cargo load of the #OA8 S.S. Gene Cernan #Cygnus was completed yesterday at @NASA_Wallops. Next up: encapsulation in #Antares fairing!
As it will come up, the temp at Wallops on Friday night/Saturday morning will be below freezing at launch time. This is, at present, not a constraint for Antares. The official forecast low at the pad that night is - currently - -2C before an 07:37 EST launch - at which time the temp is still predicted to be below freezing.I asked Trina at Orbital ATK for the launch weather commit criteria. This is the response from Kurt Eberly, VP/Antares Program Manager."Our ambient temperature constraint is -7C. Our capability is driven by the fact that we blow a lot of highly conditioned air into 3 areas of the vehicle that contain the Cygnus spacecraft, avionics, batteries, ordnance, and the second stage solid rocket motor, which are the temperature sensitive items on the rocket. The LOX we load into the vehicle is at roughly -182C, so a cold ambient air temperature is of no concern for most of Stage 1, in fact it just makes it easier to keep the LOX cold on its trip from the storage tank to the rocket. The forecast low for Friday night is -2C, so we should be OK to launch."
Quote from: ChrisGebhardt on 11/08/2017 01:10 pmThe forecast low for Friday night is 29F, so we should be OK to launch."The biggest issues in sub-freezing temperatures might involve the launch pad water deluge system and on-pad emergency showers, etc. - Ed Kyle
The forecast low for Friday night is 29F, so we should be OK to launch."
Quote from: ChrisGebhardt on 11/08/2017 01:10 pmAs it will come up, the temp at Wallops on Friday night/Saturday morning will be below freezing at launch time. This is, at present, not a constraint for Antares. The official forecast low at the pad that night is - currently - -2C before an 07:37 EST launch - at which time the temp is still predicted to be below freezing.I asked Trina at Orbital ATK for the launch weather commit criteria. This is the response from Kurt Eberly, VP/Antares Program Manager."Our ambient temperature constraint is -7C. Our capability is driven by the fact that we blow a lot of highly conditioned air into 3 areas of the vehicle that contain the Cygnus spacecraft, avionics, batteries, ordnance, and the second stage solid rocket motor, which are the temperature sensitive items on the rocket. The LOX we load into the vehicle is at roughly -182C, so a cold ambient air temperature is of no concern for most of Stage 1, in fact it just makes it easier to keep the LOX cold on its trip from the storage tank to the rocket. The forecast low for Friday night is -2C, so we should be OK to launch."Bolded is translated for the rest of the world.
#OA8 Mission Update: #Cygnus encapsulation is complete and we are prepping #Antares for roll to @VCSFA_MARS Pad 0A early tomorrow morning!
Is this the appropriate place to repeat the old joke about the two kinds of countries in the world? You know, the countries that use the metric system, and the countries that have landed men on the Moon... Sorry.