Cygnus (space transporter)

Cygnus
Type:	Space transporter
Design country:	United States
Manufacturer:	Orbital ATK , formerly Orbital Sciences Corporation

The enlarged Cygnus space transporter, from Orb-4

Cygnus is an unmanned, non-reusable supply ship , which by the company Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC, now part of Northrop Grumman Space Systems ) under the COTS project of NASA developed. Alternating with SpaceX's Dragon spaceships , it supplies the International Space Station (ISS) with cargo on behalf of NASA . A few years after the space shuttle flights were discontinued, NASA regained independence from the supply ships of its international partners.

Cygnus is the Latin word for swan and for the constellation of the same name .

development

In early 2006, NASA launched the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services Program (COTS) to organize the transportation of equipment, goods and crews to the International Space Station with the help of private companies. For the privately organized development of spacecraft, high financial grants and lucrative transport contracts were promised. After the insolvency of the original favorite Rocketplane Kistler and the associated failure of the Kistler K-1 supply system , NASA selected the Cygnus project as a replacement in February 2008. Orbital Sciences Corporation received $ 70 million in prize money for its design and a contract to deliver approximately twenty tons of supplies to the ISS. The use of eight space transporters was planned for this. Should the development and use of the vans be successful, a step-by-step payment of 1.9 billion dollars is planned. ^[outdated]

In contrast to some of its competitors, Orbital Sciences Corporation was an established company back then that had already developed and successfully deployed several satellites and launch vehicles under commercial and military contracts. Tried and tested technology should be used for an accelerated and cost-effective development of the Cygnus space transporter. The flight of a dummy on board an Antares (formerly Taurus II) rocket also developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation was originally planned for the end of 2010, but then took place in April 2013 after several delays. The first demonstration flight Cygnus 1 took off into space on September 18, 2013 and docked with the ISS on September 29, 2013. Cygnus 2 docked on January 12, 2014 with 1260 kg of material - especially for research purposes, including ants - at the ISS. On October 28, 2014, an Antares-130 launcher carrying Cygnus Orb-3 exploded a few seconds after launching for the International Space Station (ISS) from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport in Virginia . The cause of the accident was an exploded turbo pump for liquid oxygen in one of the two AJ26 engines.

The development of a manned version was considered by Orbital Sciences in 2009.

Setup and flight

Like most other space transporters, the Cygnus space transporter is divided into the two main components of the service module and cargo module. The service module is based on the STAR satellite platform, also developed by Orbital Science Corporation, as well as components from the Dawn space probe. The mass of the service module is 1.8 tons. It is powered by the hypergolic fuels hydrazine and nitrous tetroxide . The two solar generators in the service module deliver 3.5 kilowatts of electrical power.

Standard (left) and extended version (right) of the Cygnus space transporter compared to scale

The pressurized freight module is based on the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module developed in Italy . The first version of the spaceship could transport a maximum load of 2 tons of cargo in an 18.7 m³ interior. The use of the large Common Berthing Mechanism enables complete International Standard Payload Racks to be transported. The second version (in use from the end of 2015 to 2019) had an interior space of 27 m³ and allowed a load of approx. 3.5 tons of freight.

The Cygnus space transporters launch into orbit on the Antares rocket developed by OSC in cooperation with the Ukrainian KB Yuzhnoye . The space transporter is captured near the ISS with the help of the station's own robotic arm Canadarm2 and docked at a Common Berthing Mechanism on the American part of the ISS. This docking maneuver is also carried out by the Japanese HTV and the Transporter Dragon from SpaceX ; the final approach control is carried out from the ISS.

After unloading the cargo, the van is loaded with garbage, excrement and objects that are no longer needed. Just like the Russian Progress spacecraft , the Japanese HTV and the former European ATV, the transporter then burns up when it re-enters the atmosphere over the Pacific.

Since the NG-11 mission (April 2019), the Cygnus freighter can remain in orbit for a few months after undocking and thus serve as an independent platform for experiments, even without a flight to the ISS. As a result, with the start of the successor mission NG-12, two Cygnus transporters were in space simultaneously for the first time.

Spaceship	progress	Space Shuttle with MPLM	ATV	HTV HTV-X	Dragon 1 Dragon 2	Cygnus	Tianzhou	Dream chaser
Starting capacity	2.2-2.4 t	9 t	7.7 t	6.0 t 5.8 t	6.0 t	2.0 t (2013) 3.5 t (2015) 3.75 t (2019)	6.5 t	5.5 t
Landing capacity	150 kg (with VBK-Raduga )	9 t	-	20 kg (from HTV-7)	3.0 t	-	-	1.75 t
Special skills	Reboost, fuel transfer	Transport of ISPR, transport of external loads, station construction, reboost	Reboost, fuel transfer	Transportation of ISPR , transportation of external loads	Transportation of ISPR, transportation of external loads	Transport of ISPR	Fuel transfer
carrier	Soyuz	STS	Ariane 5	H-2B H3	Falcon 9	Antares / Atlas 5	Long March 7	Vulcan
Start-up costs (rough information)	$ 65 million	$ 450 million	$ 600 million	HTV: $ 300-320 million	$ 150/230 million (Dragon 1/2)	$ 260/220 million (Cygnus 2/3)
Manufacturer	RKK Energija	Alenia Spazio (MPLM)	Airbus Defense and Space	Mitsubishi Electric	SpaceX	Orbital Sciences	CAST	Sierra Nevada
Period of use	since 1978	2001-2011	2008-2015	2009–2020 from 2022	2012–2020 from 2020	since 2014	since 2017	from 2021

italic = planned

Missions

The cargo module was always named after a deceased NASA personality (mostly astronauts).

Instead of docking and undocking, the time at which the spacecraft was captured and released by the ISS's robot arm is sometimes given. There are deviations of a few hours.

List updated: May 11, 2020; all times in UTC .

No.	mission	Launcher	Start date	Docking ISS	Undock ISS	Re-entry	comment
1	Cygnus Orb-D1 G. David Low	Antares-110	September 18, 2013 2:58 pm	September 29, 2013 12:44 PM	October 22, 2013 11:31 am	October 24, 2013 6:15 pm	successfully burns up on re-entry test mission
2	Cygnus Orb-1 C. Gordon Fullerton	Antares-120	January 9, 2014 6:07 pm	January 12, 2014 1:05 pm	February 18, 2014 11:41 am	19th February 2014	first commercial mission
3	Cygnus Orb-2 Janice E. Voss	Antares-120	July 13, 2014 4:52 pm	July 16, 2014 12:53 pm	Aug 15, 2014 6:40 AM EDT	17th August 2014
4th	Cygnus Orb-3 Deke Slayton	Antares-130	October 28, 2014 10:22 PM	-	-	-	Failure: launcher exploded shortly after takeoff
5	Cygnus OA-4 Deke Slayton II	Atlas V (401)	December 6, 2015 9:45 PM	December 9, 2015 11:19 am	February 19, 2016 12:26 PM	February 20, 2016 16:00	first mission of the enlarged Cygnus transporter
6th	Cygnus OA-6 Rick Husband	Atlas V (401)	March 23, 2016 3:05 am	March 26, 2016 10:51 am	June 14, 2016 1:30 p.m.	June 22, 2016 1:05 pm
7th	Cygnus OA-5 Alan Poindexter	Antares-230	October 17, 2016 11:45 PM	October 23, 2016 2:53 p.m.	November 21, 2016 11:23 am	November 27, 2016
8th	Cygnus OA-7 John Glenn	Atlas V (401)	April 18, 2017 3:11 PM	April 22, 2017 12:39 PM	June 4, 2017 1:10 PM	June 11, 2017 5:08 pm
9	Cygnus OA-8 Gene Cernan	Antares-230	November 12, 2017 12:19 PM	November 14, 2017 10:04 am	December 5, 2017 5:52 pm	18th December 2017
10	Cygnus OA-9 JR Thompson	Antares-230	May 21, 2018 8:44 am	May 24, 2018 9:26 AM	July 15, 2018 12:37 PM	July 30, 2018 9:17 PM
11	Cygnus NG-10 John Young	Antares-230	November 17, 2018 9:01 am	November 19, 2018 10:28 am	February 8, 2019	February 25, 2019
12	Cygnus NG-11 Roger Chaffee	Antares-230	April 17, 2019 8:46 PM	April 19, 2019 9:28 AM	August 6, 2019 16:15	December 6, 2019	remained in orbit for four months after undocking
13	Cygnus NG-12 Alan Bean	Antares-230 +	November 2, 2019 13:59	November 4, 2019 11:21 am	January 31, 2020	17th March 2020	first mission of the newly enlarged Cygnus transporter; first flight under CRS-2
14th	Cygnus NG-13 Robert H. Lawrence	Antares-230 +	February 15, 2020 8:21 PM	February 18, 2020 11:16 am	May 11, 2020 4:09 pm	May 29, 2020
Planned
15th	Cygnus NG-14	Antares-230 +	September 2020				planned
16	Cygnus NG-15	Antares-230 +	February 2021				planned

Web links

Commons : Cygnus  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• OrbitalATK.com - updated information on Cygnus
• Raumfahrer.net - Mission Cygnus COTS 1
• Raumfahrer.net - Start Cygnus CRS 1

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Chris Bergin: Orbital beat a dozen competitors to win NASA COTS contract. NASASpaceflight.com, February 19, 2008, accessed June 8, 2009 . 
2. ↑ Frank Morring: Orbital Sciences To Build Taurus II. ( Memento of 21 May 2011 at the Internet Archive ) In: Aviation Week. February 20, 2008.
3. ↑ World wide launch log. spaceflightnow, September 18, 2013, accessed September 18, 2013 . 
4. ↑ Cygnus In-Orbit Update. Orbital, September 29, 2013, accessed September 29, 2013 . 
5. ↑ ^{a b} Video: Antares Explodes Seconds After Launch, Destroying Cygnus CRS-3 Spacecraft Destined for ISS. October 28, 2014, accessed October 29, 2014 . 
6. ↑ ^{a b} Unmanned NASA-contracted rocket explodes. October 28, 2014, accessed October 28, 2014 . 
7. ^ NASA and Orbital Reach Differing Conclusions on Antares Failure. October 29, 2015, accessed May 24, 2018 . 
8. ↑ Amy Klamper: Orbital Plans to Develop Cygnus-Based Crew Capsule at spacenews.com, accessed on September 13, 2009 (English)
9. ↑ Orbital Velocity: Cygnus. Accessed August 9, 2020 (English). 
10. ↑ orbitalatk.com ( Memento from November 25, 2015 in the Internet Archive )
11. ↑ Latest Cygnus mission to ISS includes new features. In: spacenews. April 16, 2019, accessed April 17, 2019 . 
12. ↑ HTV-X on Gunter's Space Page, accessed on September 24, 2019.
13. ↑ ^{a b} Dragon. SpaceX. In: spacex.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2016 ; accessed on September 22, 2019 (English). 
14. ↑ ^{a b} Dragon. SpaceX. In: spacex.com. Retrieved September 22, 2019 . 
15. ^ Commercial Resupply Services. In: orbitalatk.com. Retrieved March 24, 2018 . 
16. ↑ Eric Berger: NASA to pay more for less cargo delivery to the space station. April 27, 2018, accessed September 22, 2019 . 
17. ^ Antares launches Cygnus cargo spacecraft on first CRS-2 mission . Spacenews, November 2, 2019.
18. ^ ^{A b} Sierra Nevada firms up Atlas V Missions for Dream Chaser Spacecraft, gears up for Flight Testing. In: Spaceflight 101 July 9, 2017, accessed September 22, 2019 . 
19. ↑ Bernd Leitenberger: Progress. In: bernd-leitenberger.de. Retrieved March 24, 2018 . 
20. ↑ How much does it cost to launch a Space Shuttle? NASA, March 23, 2019, accessed March 23, 2019 . 
21. ↑ Stephen Clark: Fourth ATV attached to Ariane 5 launcher. In: spaceflightnow.com. Retrieved March 24, 2018 . 
22. ↑ Stephen Clark: Space station partners assess logistics needs beyond 2015. In: spaceflightnow.com. December 1, 2009, accessed March 24, 2018 . 
23. ↑ Robert Wyre: JAXA Wants ¥¥¥¥¥ for 2020 Rocket. In: majiroxnews.com. January 19, 2011, archived from the original on March 2, 2016 ; accessed on March 24, 2018 (English). 
24. ↑ ^{a b} SpaceX price hikes will make ISS cargo missions more costly . Engadget, April 27, 2018.
25. ↑ Stephen Clark: Japan's HTV ready for launch with last set of new space station solar batteries . Spaceflight Now, May 19, 2020.
26. ^ Cygnus Heads to Space for First Station Resupply Mission. NASA, accessed January 9, 2014 . 
27. ^ Orbital-2 Launch Coverage. NASA, July 11, 2014, accessed July 12, 2014 : "Orbital Sciences Corp. has postponed the launch of its Cygnus cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station until 12:52 pm EDT on Sunday, July 13 " 
28. ↑ Berthing Complete: OA-4 Cygnus arrives at the ISS. In: www.nasaspaceflight.com. Retrieved December 9, 2015 . 
29. ^ Traveling Cygnus pulls into port at International Space Station. In: Spaceflight Now. Retrieved March 27, 2016 . 
30. ↑ Mission Page: OA-7 Space Station Cargo Resupply. Orbital ATK, April 22, 2017, accessed April 23, 2017 . 
31. ↑ Forever Young: NG-10 Cygnus departs Earth bound for the International Space Station . In: SpaceFlight Insider . November 17, 2018 ( spaceflightinsider.com [accessed November 17, 2018]).
32. ↑ US Space Freighter Captured by NASA Astronaut . In: NASA . November 19, 2018 ( nasa.gov [accessed December 1, 2018]).
33. ↑ Stephen Clark: Cygnus supply ship departs space station, begins extended mission. In: Spacefligth Now. August 2019, accessed August 2019 7 . 
34. ↑ Upcoming ELaNa CubeSat Launches . NASA, accessed on April 18, 2020. For NG-14, October 30 is also optionally mentioned. However, this date is older than the one for September, and October 30 is the date of the SpaceX CRS-21 mission , according to secondary sources such as Spaceflight Now .
35. ↑ Microgravity Research Flights . Glenn Research Center , accessed April 22, 2020.