Posted on 11/07/2022 1:31:38 PM PST by BenLurkin
Northop Grumman's robotic Cygnus cargo ship launched toward the ISS this morning (Nov. 7) from Virginia, packed with more than 4.1 tons (3.7 metric tons) of food and other supplies for the astronauts aboard the orbiting lab.
The launch went smoothly, but Cygnus encountered some trouble after separating from its Antares rocket ride: The freighter has managed to unfurl just one of its two solar arrays.
Mission team members are working to troubleshoot the glitch, but Cygnus may still be able to power its way to the space station for a scheduled Wednesday (Nov. 9) meetup even if a fix isn't found.
"Northrop Grumman has reported to NASA that Cygnus has sufficient power to rendezvous with the International Space Station on Wednesday, Nov. 9, to complete its primary mission, and NASA is assessing this and the configuration required for capture and berthing," NASA officials wrote in a brief update today.
Among the many science experiments flying on the cargo ship is a 3D printer known as the BioFabrication Facility(opens in new tab), which is designed to print organ-like tissues in microgravity, and a study that will assess how the space environment affects ovarian cells.
Cygnus is one of three robotic spacecraft that currently ferry cargo to the ISS, along with Russia's Progress vehicle and SpaceX's Dragon capsule.
Cygnus and Progress are expendable craft that burn up in Earth's atmosphere when their time in orbit is up. Dragon, by contrast, returns to Earth in one piece for future reuse.
(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...
oh the humanity!
I wonder why they need two arrays for a couple day flight? I would think batteries would hold a charge for that long.
Oh well…it looks like it’s going to get there anyway.
Probably a Lexmark printer
Probably a Lexmark printer
~~~
As long as it’s not a Canon Printer. It will load the space station’s operating system with 6 printer utility programs and 8 background processes.
From what the article mentioned about science experiments onboard, I would guess the the extra power is needed for those.
“...packed with more than 4.1 tons (3.7 metric tons) of food and other supplies”
Any Chef Boy-Ar-Dee?
Truth
Only the ones in the styro bowls. Cans are too heavy.
We got a utility here that built a massive ground array last year. It is all motorized to aim at the sun all day long. Too bad that ever time I drive by less than half of its aimed in a useful direction. Been that way at least six months. What a waste!
Good ole Tampa Electric, wasting rate payers $$$ since 1999.
Saw this in a movie once. It didnt end well...
This is a cargo ship. The science experiments will happen on the SS.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OMibr8CqQ4
Spinning, whirling
Still descending
Like a spiral sea, unending
Sound and fury drowns my heart
Every nerve is torn apart...
in case one fails. like it just did.
They shoulda put a windmill on it….
Not all of them, some are actually done in the Cygnus.
Really? Interesting.
Batteries probably weigh considerably more than a couple solar arrays.
Ya it is, I didn’t know that was happening until I heard it stated at the launch broadcast. Guess the iss can use Cygnus as an extra lab space. I do know NG does do experiments after Cygnus un docks.
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