NASASpaceFlight.com Forum
Commercial and US Government Launch Vehicles => NGIS (Formerly Orbital ATK) - Antares/Cygnus Section => Topic started by: FutureSpaceTourist on 01/31/2024 10:39 am
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A thread for updates and discussion of the post-launch Cygnus NG-20 mission.
The launch thread is: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=58524.0
https://news.northropgrumman.com/news/releases/northrop-grummans-20th-cargo-resupply-mission-successfully-launches-to-the-international-space-station-for-nasa
The Cygnus spacecraft, named in honor of astronaut Dr. Patricia “Patty” Hilliard Robertson, will deliver critical supplies to astronauts
January 30, 2024
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Jan. 30, 2024 – Northrop Grumman Corporation’s (NYSE: NOC) Cygnus cargo delivery spacecraft was successfully launched to the International Space Station today by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This is the company’s 20th resupply mission, designated as NG-20.
Under NASA’s Commercial Resupply Service-2 (CRS-2) contract, Cygnus is carrying more than 8,200 pounds of critical supplies, equipment and science experiments for astronauts on the station.
After its rendezvous with the International Space Station on February 1, Cygnus will remain attached to the station for up to six months. The spacecraft may perform additional services such as reboosting the station’s orbit to counteract atmospheric drag. Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus provides the only U.S. spacecraft reboost capability for the International Space Station.
Cygnus uses Northrop Grumman’s vertical integration capabilities, incorporating essential products manufactured by the company like spacecraft structures, propellant tanks, UltraFlex solar arrays and loop heat pipe radiators for thermal control.
Expert:
Cyrus Dhalla, vice president and general manager, tactical space systems, Northrop Grumman: “This mission reflects Cygnus’s flexibility to launch on a variety of launch vehicles, demonstrating our ability to deliver on our commitments to support NASA’s mission. With a decade of experience in cargo and logistics services, Northrop Grumman will continue supporting missions on the International Space Station and future civil and commercial exploration.”
Details on Cygnus:
Each Cygnus spacecraft is named in honor of an individual who has made significant contributions to human spaceflight. For the NG-20 mission, Cygnus celebrates the legacy of Dr. Patricia “Patty” Hilliard Robertson, a medical doctor, avid aerobatic pilot and NASA astronaut. She completed a two-year Space Medicine fellowship at the University of Texas Medical Branch and NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Robertson was selected as an astronaut in 1998 and scheduled to fly to the ISS in 2002, before her untimely death in 2001 from injuries sustained in a private plane crash.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defense technology company. Our pioneering solutions equip our customers with the capabilities they need to connect and protect the world, and push the boundaries of human exploration across the universe. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers’ toughest problems, our employees define possible every day.
Photo caption:
Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft for the NG-20 cargo delivery mission to the International Space Station launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. (Photo Credit: Northrop Grumman)
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NASA TV coverage started. Approach initiation burn in 10 minutes.
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AI burn complete
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1000 meters. Tally ho
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Livestream snapshot, Cygnus in view:
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Warning to the crew about LIDAR concerns if using unshielded optics... Someone else is awake :)
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Closer view. At 250 m hold point.
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MCC Houston polled "go."
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Video of a video screen on ISS. Because downlinking the video directly is ... ?
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Inside 200 m keep-out sphere.
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30 m hold point "HP-2".
Another GO/NO GO poll between NG and NASA mission controls.
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Resuming Final Approach to Capture Point.
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CP "Capture Point" ~15 meters below the ISS .
Cygnus now in Free Drift (and ISS into a Fine Attitude Hold with thrusters disabled).
Another final GO/NO GO poll .
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GO for capture.
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SSRMS in motion....
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Satellite handover (as expected)
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LEE over the pin, snares were command to close
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CAPTURE !
Welcome abooard S.S. Patricia “Patty” Hilliard Robertson !
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Post capture configuration: ISS crew safing SSRMS and then hand robotics off to ROBO at MCC-H
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Next, berthing to Unity nadir CBM.
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NASA astronauts captured @northropgrumman’s Cygnus cargo craft at 4:59am ET using the Canadarm2 robotic arm. Mission controllers in Houston will begin guiding Cygnus in for installation on the Unity module’s Earth-facing port at 6:30am. More… http://go.nasa.gov/3vZ3cEM
https://twitter.com/Space_Station/status/1752998128993632495
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Sunset...
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CAPTURE !
Welcome abooard S.S. Patricia “Patty” Hilliard Robertson !
Thank you, Centaurinasa. I don't usually watch the docking of non-human cargo flights. This one was great for viewing the scenery below while loitering. You do a great job of covering the events and posting when needed. It's great to have members like you who volunteer to document this.
Best
Tony
I also need to thank Targeteer and sdsds for there coverage during the initial stages. I bet you like working together.
Tony
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Berthing process:
- SSRMS in move to align Cygnus tu Nadir Node-1 CBM
- Cygnus CBM visual inspection (ISS cam)
- No exercice constraint
- Final alignment
- Ready To Latch position
- 1st stage capture: 4 latches closed "soft capture"
- SSRMS in "limp mode" (no constraint on Cygnus by SSRMS)
- 2nd stage capture: 16 bolds drived
- Installation complete
- Vestibule leak check
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Berthing process:
- SSRMS in move to align Cygnus tu Nadir Node-1 CBM
- Cygnus CBM visual inspection (ISS cam)
- No exercice constraint
- Final alignment
- Ready To Latch position
- 1st stage capture: 4 latches closed "soft capture"
- SSRMS in "limp mode" (no constraint on Cygnus by SSRMS)
- 2nd stage capture: 16 bolds drived
- Installation complete
- Vestibule leak check
Oh, I forgot berthing is next. Lot's more to come.
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ROBO at MCC-H has started the berthing.
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https://youtu.be/78FxCsl3iR0
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Above North Africa.
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NASA TV is back.
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Cygnus approach from ISS porthole (centerline camera)
ROBO procced to precise aligment.. (distance.:2 meters)
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Good Ready To Latch (4 Capture Latches: two on Cygnus and two on ISS) position
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1st stage capture complete.
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SSRMS in "limp mode" (no constraint on Cygnus by SSRMS).
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ready to 2nd stage capture.
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2nd stage capture: 16 powered bolts are commanded to complete the rigidization of the structural joint to seal the vestibule between the passive and active elements.
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Installation complete at 12.14 UTC above New Zealand !!
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End of NASA TV coverage.
Thanks to our NASA's PAO Chelsey Ballarte (and thanks to catdlr for his words :) )
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Cygnus NG-20: The Cygnus was locked in place at the Earth-facing port of the space station's central Unity module at 7:14am EST (1214 UTC); hatches will be opened later today
https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews/status/1753029712648004078
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Loaded with more than 8,200 pounds of supplies and science, @northropgrumman’s Cygnus spacecraft was successfully installed on the station at 7:14am ET today.
https://twitter.com/Space_Station/status/1753030684808036455
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Feb. 1, 2024: International Space Station Configuration. Six spaceships are docked at the space station including the SpaceX Dragon crew spacecraft Endurance and Freedom, the Soyuz MS-24 crew ship, Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus cargo spacecraft, and the Progress 85 and 86 resupply ships.
https://www.nasa.gov/international-space-station/space-station-visiting-vehicles/#:~:text=Nov.,84%20and%2085%20resupply%20ships.
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https://youtu.be/j3ifv2dQKdI
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For archival purposes, here are the NASA Video links to the broadcasts of capture and berthing:
Capture - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fb_pzLQ-ujE
Berthing - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj2cSf9HG1s
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Is there any coverage of hatch opening?
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PDF of online Mission Overview.
https://www.nasa.gov/missions/station/overview-for-nasas-northrop-grumman-20th-commercial-resupply-mission/
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Photos from NASA Johnson flickr
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https://twitter.com/northropgrumman/status/1800171261445701827
The S.S. Patricia “Patty” Hilliard Robertson completed three reboost burns to the @Space_Station, where our Cygnus spacecraft adjusts the orbit of the station. 🌌
#Cygnus provides the only U.S. reboost capability. 🚀
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https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2024/06/28/crews-wrap-week-managers-provide-starliner-spacewalk-and-cargo-updates/
Robotics controllers are scheduled to detach the Cygnus space freighter from the Unity module on July 12 and release it into Earth orbit for disposal over the South Pacific Ocean ending a five-and-a-half-month mission at the orbital lab.
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Cygnus is on the extended SSRMS in prep for release.
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NASA TV coverage started
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Heard on the net that reentry is scheduled for 15:55 UTC on July 13.
Anyone knows what experiment package is attached to Cygnus for disposal?
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https://youtu.be/IEjzmDKFYsQ
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Anyone knows what experiment package is attached to Cygnus for disposal?
STP-H5
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https://youtu.be/vOgemf_rlxw
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Some screenshots from the Live Video from the ISS stream - first of Cygnus being un-berthed, starting around 4:00 am US/Eastern:
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Then its departure from the station.
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Anyone knows what experiment package is attached to Cygnus for disposal?
STP-H5
Anyone know what the 13 kg unpressurized cargo on ascent was?
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For the record:
https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1811982134653124961
The Cygnus NG-20 cargo ship was unberthed from the Unity module at 0800 UTC Jul 12 and released into orbit at 1101 UTC; it is expected to be deorbited over the Pacific on Jul 13.
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Anyone knows what experiment package is attached to Cygnus for disposal?
STP-H5
Anyone know what the 13 kg unpressurized cargo on ascent was?
I wonder if maybe that's the mounting fixture for STP-H5's disposal? (Would that count as cargo mass?)
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Cygnus should have been deorbited by now but I haven't seen any official statement.
Does anyone have a NOTAM for the S Pacific reentry zone?
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https://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=58898
CYGNUS NG-20
CYGNUS NG-20 is no longer on orbit
CYGNUS NG-20 is classified as: ISS
NORAD ID: 58898
Int'l Code: 2024-021A
Launch date: January 30, 2024
Source: United States (US)
Launch site: AIR FORCE EASTERN TEST RANGE (AFETR)
Decay date: 2024-07-13
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https://twitter.com/northropgrumman/status/1812813332564377641
Northrop Grumman @northropgrumman
It’s not goodbye – it’s see you later. 👋
NG-20 has left the @Space_station , but we’ll be back when NG-21 launches soon! 🚀 http://ms.spr.ly/6012lOPIC
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From NASA Johnson:
https://flic.kr/p/2q4ob8T
https://flic.kr/p/2q4nVg2
https://flic.kr/p/2q4nVgY
https://flic.kr/p/2q4m2wE
https://flic.kr/p/2q4grQA