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LIVE: Cygnus OA-9 - Arrival, ISS mission and EOM - Updates
by
Chris Bergin
on 23 May, 2018 19:23
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#1
by
Chris Bergin
on 23 May, 2018 21:07
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#2
by
guyw
on 24 May, 2018 02:35
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Two really good passes of the ISS and Cygnus tonight over New Hampshire. ISS easily visible with the naked eye, but needed binoculars to see Cygnus trailing by about the width of the binoculars field of view.
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#3
by
Targeteer
on 24 May, 2018 04:14
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The ISS feed is showing the view from the SSRMS end effector. No audio of the crew yet, a little surprising considering the early capture.
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#4
by
Targeteer
on 24 May, 2018 06:56
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Crew finally checks in and is go for robotic work station setup
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#5
by
Targeteer
on 24 May, 2018 07:11
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crew is go to activate Cygnus nav lights via C2V2
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#6
by
Targeteer
on 24 May, 2018 07:13
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crew can see Cygnus, buy not the lights, which MCC-H reports is expected
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#7
by
Targeteer
on 24 May, 2018 07:22
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NASA TV starts coverage at the bottom of the hour, according to the Dish network program guide which apparently isn't correct
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#8
by
Chris Bergin
on 24 May, 2018 07:46
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#9
by
Chris Bergin
on 24 May, 2018 07:48
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#10
by
Chris Bergin
on 24 May, 2018 07:51
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Cygnus burn. Heading to 1000 meters.
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#11
by
Chris Bergin
on 24 May, 2018 07:56
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#12
by
Chris Bergin
on 24 May, 2018 08:05
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Just in the middle of this screen. Hard to make up, but the vehicle is there.
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#13
by
Chris Bergin
on 24 May, 2018 08:08
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#14
by
Chris Bergin
on 24 May, 2018 08:08
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370 meters out, heading to 300 meters.
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#15
by
Chris Bergin
on 24 May, 2018 08:12
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Just over one hour to capture.
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#16
by
Chris Bergin
on 24 May, 2018 08:19
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#17
by
Chris Bergin
on 24 May, 2018 08:28
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#18
by
Chris Bergin
on 24 May, 2018 08:33
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Departing from 250 meter hold point.
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#19
by
Chris Bergin
on 24 May, 2018 08:48
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Getting closer and closer.....
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#20
by
Chris Bergin
on 24 May, 2018 08:52
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#21
by
Chris Bergin
on 24 May, 2018 09:00
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#22
by
Chris Bergin
on 24 May, 2018 09:03
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#23
by
Chris Bergin
on 24 May, 2018 09:08
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Heading to 10 meters and the capture point.
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#24
by
Chris Bergin
on 24 May, 2018 09:11
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#25
by
Chris Bergin
on 24 May, 2018 09:16
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#26
by
Chris Bergin
on 24 May, 2018 09:17
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#27
by
Chris Bergin
on 24 May, 2018 09:26
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#28
by
Chris Bergin
on 24 May, 2018 09:28
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#29
by
centaurinasa
on 24 May, 2018 09:37
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Congratulation to ATK and NASA teams and many thanks to Chris for the coverage !
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#30
by
SciNews
on 24 May, 2018 09:49
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Main events of the capture
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#31
by
centaurinasa
on 24 May, 2018 10:36
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#32
by
centaurinasa
on 24 May, 2018 10:54
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#33
by
centaurinasa
on 24 May, 2018 10:59
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#34
by
centaurinasa
on 24 May, 2018 11:33
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#35
by
centaurinasa
on 24 May, 2018 11:42
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#36
by
centaurinasa
on 24 May, 2018 11:48
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#37
by
centaurinasa
on 24 May, 2018 12:05
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1st stage capture complete.
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#38
by
centaurinasa
on 24 May, 2018 12:10
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#39
by
centaurinasa
on 24 May, 2018 12:15
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second stage complete at 12.13 UTC.
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#40
by
Chris Bergin
on 24 May, 2018 12:16
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#41
by
centaurinasa
on 24 May, 2018 12:22
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Updated ISS configuration.
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#42
by
SciNews
on 24 May, 2018 12:29
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OA-9 S.S. J.R. Thompson Cygnus berthing
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#43
by
jacqmans
on 24 May, 2018 13:15
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Orbital ATK's Cygnus Spacecraft Successfully Completes Rendezvous and Berthing with International Space Station
“S.S. J.R. Thompson” Delivers Approximately 7,400 Pounds of Cargo and Scientific Experiments
Cygnus Scheduled For Seven Week Stay at Orbiting Laboratory
Dulles, Virginia 24 May 2018 – Orbital ATK (NYSE: OA), a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies, today announced that the “S.S. J.R. Thompson” CygnusTM spacecraft successfully completed its rendezvous and berthing maneuvers with the International Space Station earlier this morning. This marks the company’s ninth successful berthing with the orbiting laboratory.
Cygnus launched into orbit aboard an Orbital ATK Antares™ rocket at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on May 21. The spacecraft then executed a series of thruster burns over the next couple of days to raise its orbit and reach the space station. Once Cygnus was in close range, crew members grappled the spacecraft with the station’s robotic arm at 5:26 a.m. EDT. Cygnus was then guided to its berthing port on the nadir side of the station’s Unity module and officially installed to the space station at 8:13 a.m. EDT.
“Against the backdrop of a flawless rendezvous and berthing, Cygnus once again demonstrated its ability to perform as a trusted and valued mission partner to NASA and the crew on the International Space Station,” said Frank Culbertson, President of Orbital ATK’s Space Systems Group. “Once we finish delivering vital supplies and scientific equipment, our work continues after departure with the deployment of several CubeSats. These secondary missions further highlight the flexibility and versatility of Cygnus beyond cargo delivery and disposal.”
Cygnus arrived at the station with approximately 7,400 pounds (3,350) kilograms) of cargo, supplies and scientific experiments. The crew is now scheduled to open Cygnus’s hatch and make initial ingress into the cargo module to begin unloading the pressurized cargo. Cygnus will remain docked at the station for seven weeks before departing with up to 7,100 pounds (approximately 3,200 kilograms) of disposable cargo.
After departure, a NanoRacks deployer will release six CubeSats. Upon completion of this secondary mission, Cygnus will perform a safe, destructive reentry into Earth’s atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean.
Under the CRS-1 contract with NASA, Orbital ATK will deliver approximately 66,000 pounds (30,000 kilograms) of cargo to the International Space Station. Beginning in 2019, Orbital ATK will carry out a minimum of six initial cargo missions under NASA’s follow-on CRS-2 contract. This partnership is cultivating a robust American commercial space industry, freeing NASA to focus on developing the next-generation rocket and spacecraft that will enable humans to conduct deep space exploration missions.
In keeping with Orbital ATK’s practice, the OA-9 spacecraft is named in honor of those who made significant contributions to America’s human spaceflight programs. OA-9 is dedicated to J.R. Thompson, a distinguished leader in the aerospace industry. Thompson directed the operations of Orbital ATK’s predecessor company, Orbital Sciences Corporation for nearly 25 years and also served as NASA’s Deputy Administrator in Washington, D.C. from 1989-1991.
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#44
by
BeamRider
on 24 May, 2018 16:13
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Saw pass from Seattle area at roughly 22:30 Pacific time, and Cygnus was clearly visible to naked eye trailing ISS by about 10 degrees (?). Then saw pass at 00:05 and Cygnus could be seen VERY close to ISS at 11 o’clock relative position when looking due north. Separation seemed roughly equal to Mizar double star in Big Dipper, but could not be compared simultaneously due to cloud.
I would like to know what was the separation in km at midnight, as that would allow me to better grasp the physical size of the separation I was seeing. I have seen orbital objects in close formation before (NOSS, ISS & Shuttle) but it was a bit mind-blowing to those with me! They hear about these rendezvous in the news but they had no idea it could actually be seen without a telescope, etc. by the average Joe just by looking up!
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#45
by
yg1968
on 25 May, 2018 00:52
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#46
by
Lewis007
on 25 May, 2018 06:31
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#47
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 25 May, 2018 18:56
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#48
by
Lewis007
on 26 May, 2018 06:55
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Cygnus OA-9 pics have been tweeted by Tingle, Kanai and Flight Director Royce Renfrew, and NASA JSC posted some high-res pics on Flickr.
Note: additional pics were posted by Arnold on Twitter (not attached here)
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#49
by
Chris Bergin
on 28 May, 2018 17:33
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#50
by
ChrisC
on 29 May, 2018 02:23
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#51
by
Sam Ho
on 29 May, 2018 02:44
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ARTICLE: Cygnus OA-9E delivers the science, won’t be used as experiment module this flight -
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/05/cygnus-oa-9e-science-wont-experiment-module-flight/
"experiment module extension platform for the ISS"
What does this mean? The article doesn't say. How was it used in that way on OA-8?
Explanation from OA-8:
ISS Daily Summary Report – 11/22/2017
TangoLab-1 Transfer to Cygnus (OA-8): The crew removed TangoLab-1 from EXPRESS Rack 4, and transferred the facility to Cygnus for a short demonstration of TangoLab-1 operations in Cygnus. This is being performed as a proof of the “extended lab” concept, wherein visiting vehicles can be used as an extension of the ISS laboratory volume while attached. TangoLab-1 is a reconfigurable general research facility designed for microgravity research and development and pilot manufacturing aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
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#52
by
deruch
on 30 May, 2018 02:06
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ARTICLE: Cygnus OA-9E delivers the science, won’t be used as experiment module this flight -
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/05/cygnus-oa-9e-science-wont-experiment-module-flight/
"experiment module extension platform for the ISS"
What does this mean? The article doesn't say. How was it used in that way on OA-8?
In the OA-9 post-launch briefing they talked about either freeing up some space on station or expanding the available rack space by temp stowing/running experiments inside Cygnus while it was berthed. This was first demonstrated on the previous mission with TangoLab-1.
In the same briefing, they also mentioned potentially off loading some for a period of free flying onboard Cygnus, after which it would then reberth with station and the rack be returned to station, if the experiments were especially desirous of a quieter micro-g platform than ISS could normally provide. The Cold Atom Lab that OA-9 brought up to station was given as a potential example of the type of payload that might consider it. One of the Cygnus missions is going to be run as a free flyer for a significant period (I don't recall offhand the exact length, but I think it was at least a year) after it leaves station as a demonstration of the capability.
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#53
by
gongora
on 09 Jun, 2018 04:15
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I ran across this document relating to the cubesat deployments happening after OA-9 leaves the station.
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#54
by
Joseph Peterson
on 26 Jun, 2018 21:27
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Does anyone know what became of the reboost test?
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#55
by
zubenelgenubi
on 27 Jun, 2018 16:16
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Does anyone know what became of the reboost test?
According to our NSF "Schedule of ISS flight events (part 2)" thread:
Current schedule of ISS flight events
UTC time is used in table
2018
<snip>
July 12 - ISS orbit's reboost by Cygnus (OA-9) engines
July 15 - Cygnus (OA-9) unberthing (from Unity nadir) and releasing by SSRMS
Late July - Cygnus (OA-9) deorbit and reentered the atmosphere
<snip>
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#56
by
deruch
on 29 Jun, 2018 22:57
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Does anyone know what became of the reboost test?
It's supposed to be towards the end of the Cygnus mission, not too many days before the unberthing. It's a very, very small delta-v being given to station.
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#57
by
centaurinasa
on 10 Jul, 2018 00:47
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The Cygnus, scheduled to depart July 15, will be used Tuesday (July 10) for a test to find out whether the U.S. spacecraft can be used in the future to raise the station's altitude, a task normally performed by Russian thrusters or by attached Progress spacecraft.
For Tuesday's test, the relatively small main engine of the Cygnus will be fired for 60 seconds, raising the station's orbit by just 360 feet or so. Engineers will study the stresses and loads imparted by the burn to determine if Cygnus spacecraft can be used in the future for more routine orbit-raising maneuvers.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russian-progress-launch-to-international-space-station-4-hours-fastest-ever-live-stream/
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#58
by
Chris Bergin
on 10 Jul, 2018 21:27
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#59
by
Steven Pietrobon
on 11 Jul, 2018 06:10
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Did the ISS re-orient itself to fire the engine? That is, was it fired straight up or along the velocity vector?
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#60
by
Comga
on 12 Jul, 2018 04:16
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I ran across this document relating to the cubesat deployments happening after OA-9 leaves the station.
That document is an impressive find, but frankly, I would be shocked if this alone was deemed sufficient for each of the partners to sign off on the safety of deploying satellites at altitudes above the ISS. These criteria, established for jettisoning hardware, seems totally inappropriate. I’ve done some calculations of orbital motion and decay. There are dangers and ways to control them but they aren’t things put on a “jettison” form.
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#61
by
jacqmans
on 12 Jul, 2018 06:26
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July 11, 2018
MEDIA ADVISORY M18-104
Coverage Set for Departure of US Cargo Ship from International Space Station
Nearly two months after Orbital ATK, now part of Northrop Grumman, delivered several tons of supplies and scientific experiments to the International Space Station aboard its Cygnus cargo spacecraft, the spacecraft is set to depart the orbiting laboratory Sunday, July 15. Live coverage of unberthing and release will air on NASA Television and the agency’s website.
Expedition 56 Flight Engineers Alexander Gerst of ESA (European Space Agency) and Serena Auñón-Chancellor of NASA will use the station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm to release Cygnus, dubbed the SS “J.R. Thompson,” after a leader in the aerospace industry. Live coverage will begin at 8:15 a.m. EDT for a scheduled release at 8:35 a.m.
Following its release, Cygnus will deploy a series of NanoRacks customer CubeSats. The cargo craft will then remain in orbit for an additional two weeks to allow the Cygnus flight control team to conduct engineering tests. The satellite deployment will not be broadcast on NASA TV.
Cygnus is scheduled to deorbit with thousands of pounds of trash on Monday, July 30, as it burns up harmlessly over the Pacific Ocean while entering Earth’s atmosphere. The spacecraft’s deorbit will not be broadcast on NASA TV.
Cygnus launched May 21 on an Antares rocket from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia and arrived at the station on May 24, carrying a variety of science and technology investigations.
Keep up with the International Space Station and its research and crew at:
https://www.nasa.gov/stationGet breaking news, images and features from the space station on social media at:
https://instagram.com/issand
https://www.twitter.com/Space_Station
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#62
by
centaurinasa
on 12 Jul, 2018 11:00
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It seems that, Cygnus grapple or Release OBT, today …
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#63
by
Olaf
on 13 Jul, 2018 15:01
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#64
by
centaurinasa
on 15 Jul, 2018 06:56
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Cygnus is already grappled by the SSRMS.
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#65
by
centaurinasa
on 15 Jul, 2018 07:00
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NASA TV Live coverage of Cygnus CRS-9 departure, will begin at 12.15 UTC, for a scheduled release at 12.35 UTC.
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#66
by
centaurinasa
on 15 Jul, 2018 08:28
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#67
by
centaurinasa
on 15 Jul, 2018 09:35
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Vestibule depress underway….
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#68
by
centaurinasa
on 15 Jul, 2018 09:44
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Vestibule depress & leak check complete.
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#69
by
centaurinasa
on 15 Jul, 2018 10:25
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The unberthing procedures start by the retraction of 16 bolts and opening four capture latches to demate Cygnus from Unity and transfer control of the spacecraft to SSRMS.
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#70
by
centaurinasa
on 15 Jul, 2018 10:28
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At MCC-H, ROBO controllers command the arm into motion starting with a slow back-out from the Unity CBM
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#71
by
centaurinasa
on 15 Jul, 2018 10:36
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Then, the SSRMS slowly move Cygnus to its release position, around 12 meters from the ISS's modules...
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#72
by
centaurinasa
on 15 Jul, 2018 11:14
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Now in release position, Cygnus wait for its departure time while the crew configure the RWS "robotics workstation" in the Cupola.
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#73
by
centaurinasa
on 15 Jul, 2018 11:54
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Alex: "We are ready in the Cupola, for Cygnus release"
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#74
by
Chris Bergin
on 15 Jul, 2018 12:10
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NASA TV ramping up:
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#75
by
centaurinasa
on 15 Jul, 2018 12:16
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Gary Jordan is our today's PAO...
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#76
by
centaurinasa
on 15 Jul, 2018 12:17
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#77
by
Chris Bergin
on 15 Jul, 2018 12:18
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#78
by
centaurinasa
on 15 Jul, 2018 12:20
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#79
by
centaurinasa
on 15 Jul, 2018 12:20
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Flight director & Capcoms...
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#80
by
centaurinasa
on 15 Jul, 2018 12:22
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VVO (Visiting Vehicle Officer)
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#81
by
centaurinasa
on 15 Jul, 2018 12:23
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#82
by
centaurinasa
on 15 Jul, 2018 12:27
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MCC-H "go for release on time at 12.35 (UTC)"
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#83
by
centaurinasa
on 15 Jul, 2018 12:38
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RELEASE at 12.37 UTC !
Snares within the LEE were commanded to open and release it, then the arm was slowly backed away from Cygnus to reach a safe free-drift.
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#84
by
Chris Bergin
on 15 Jul, 2018 12:40
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#85
by
Chris Bergin
on 15 Jul, 2018 12:41
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#86
by
centaurinasa
on 15 Jul, 2018 12:41
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#87
by
centaurinasa
on 15 Jul, 2018 12:43
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#88
by
centaurinasa
on 15 Jul, 2018 12:45
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#89
by
centaurinasa
on 15 Jul, 2018 12:46
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Range beyond 200 meters, leaving KOS (Keep Out Sphere)
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#90
by
centaurinasa
on 15 Jul, 2018 12:47
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Cygnus now 500 meters away...
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#91
by
centaurinasa
on 15 Jul, 2018 12:48
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#92
by
Chris Bergin
on 15 Jul, 2018 12:49
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Some cubesat deploys and then re-entry on July 30.
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#93
by
centaurinasa
on 15 Jul, 2018 12:51
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#94
by
centaurinasa
on 15 Jul, 2018 12:52
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Cygnus now, 900 meters away from the station.
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#95
by
Mapperuo
on 15 Jul, 2018 12:56
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#96
by
centaurinasa
on 15 Jul, 2018 12:59
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Cygnus now depart the ISS Approach Ellipsoid, ending integrated operations between NASA’s MCC in Houston and Cygnus MCC in Dulles, Virginia.
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#97
by
centaurinasa
on 15 Jul, 2018 13:00
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Some words from Alexander Gerst.
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#98
by
centaurinasa
on 15 Jul, 2018 13:05
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And… end of NASA TV coverage.
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#99
by
Chris Bergin
on 15 Jul, 2018 13:06
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Great work centaurinasa!
And I edited my post as it's July 30 for re-entry.
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#100
by
centaurinasa
on 15 Jul, 2018 13:24
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#101
by
SciNews
on 15 Jul, 2018 13:26
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Cygnus unberthing time-lapse
Cygnus departure with corrected aspect ratio
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#102
by
centaurinasa
on 15 Jul, 2018 16:23
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Following unberthing, the “S.S. J.R. Thompson” will raise its orbit above the International Space Station and use a NanoRacks CubeSat deployer to release six CubeSats into orbit. Four of the CubeSats will join Spire Global’s commercial weather satellite constellation for global ship and weather tracking. The NanoRacks manifest also includes the AeroCube 12A and 12B satellites. These two CubeSats come from the Aerospace Corporation and test new star tracker imagers and high-efficiency solar panels.
The mission is expected to end July 30 when Cygnus will execute a safe, destructive reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean
https://news.northropgrumman.com/news/releases/northrop-grummans-cygnus-spacecraft-begins-secondary-mission-in-space
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#103
by
Olaf
on 16 Jul, 2018 10:00
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#104
by
SMS
on 16 Jul, 2018 19:48
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http://nanoracks.com/fifth-external-cygnus-deployment/Dulles, Virginia July 16, 2018 –Yesterday evening, NanoRacks successfully deployed six CubeSats from the Company’s CubeSat deployer mounted on the outside of the Cygnus spacecraft. This brings the overall count to 223 small satellites deployed into low-Earth orbit.
The ninth contracted resupply mission from Orbital ATK (now Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems) launched on May 21, 2018, carrying NanoRacks’ fifth mission providing opportunities for CubeSat deployment from Cygnus after the vehicle departs from the International Space Station. Prior to launch, the NanoRacks External Cygnus Deployer is installed on the exterior of the Cygnus service module with the capability to deploy satellites after the spacecraft completes its primary space station commercial resupply mission.
The Cygnus spacecraft was raised to over 480 kilometers after departing the International Space Station before the CubeSats were released.
NanoRacks deployed the following satellites:
Lemurs (4 Satellites) – Spire Global, Inc.
AeroCube 12A – Aerospace Corporation
AeroCube 12B – Aerospace Corporation
“This mission truly builds on NanoRacks vision of repurposing in-space hardware,” says NanoRacks Chief Technology Officer, Mike Lewis. “This Cygnus spacecraft carried out a primary mission to the Space Station, re-boosted the Station, and then deployed numerous small satellites from a diverse group of customers. We’re proud to remain a key player in these mission-extending operations while simultaneously providing reliable opportunities for the satellite community.
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#105
by
whiztech
on 17 Jul, 2018 01:51
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#106
by
Lewis007
on 17 Jul, 2018 05:20
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Artemyev posted some pics of the Cygnus departure
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#107
by
SciNews
on 17 Jul, 2018 16:44
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#108
by
Olaf
on 30 Jul, 2018 17:32
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#109
by
Lewis007
on 01 Aug, 2018 04:49
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