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WALLOPS ISLAND, Virginia – NASA and Northrop Grumman are teaming up to launch a cargo capsule to the International Space Station today (August 10) and you can watch the action live online.
The Cygnus NG-16 spacecraft will take off on top of a double-decker Antares rocket from Pad 09A at Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia at 5:56 p.m. EDT (2156 GMT) as part of the company’s 16th refueling mission to the ISS for NASA.
You can watch the launch live here on Space.com, courtesy of NASA TV, starting at 5:30 p.m. EDT (9:30 p.m. GMT). You can also watch it directly from NASA TV here.
Related: Drops in space and other interesting science launching into the space station
Northrop Grumman is one of NASA’s business partners that keeps the space station well stocked with supplies as part of the agency’s commercial cargo replenishment program. The silver spacecraft is loaded with 8,200 pounds (3,700 kilograms) of crew supplies, equipment, and research experiments for the Expedition 65 crew.
After take off, the bus-sized Cygnus spacecraft will spend two days in space in pursuit of the International Space Station (ISS). Once arrived, the spacecraft will dock at the orbital outpost using the station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm.
“I look forward to our sweet 16 mission in support of NASA and our business partners as we continue the journey of human space exploration,” said Frank DeMauro, division vice president and general manager. Northrop Grumman’s Tactical Space Systems at a press conference. Monday (August 9).
Northrop Grumman built both the rocket and the spacecraft, and the entrepreneur has a tradition of naming each of his cargo capsules after an individual who made a significant contribution to human spaceflight. For this mission, the Cygnus is named SS Ellison Onizuka, after the first Asian American astronaut, who was killed on the space shuttle Challenger in 1986.
Born in Hawaii, Onizuka always dreamed of flying to the stars. He got his chance in 1978 when he was selected by NASA to become an astronaut. After a successful career in the military as a test pilot, Onizuka was an inspiration to the Asian-American community and to those who wanted to explore new horizons.
“SS Ellison Onizuka will serve as a shining example that racial barriers and glass ceilings are meant to be broken,” DeMauro said in Monday’s briefing.
According to NASA officials, the SS Ellison Onizuka will remain attached to the space station for about three months. At the end of its mission, the space station’s astronauts will load it with trash before sending it for a destructive re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. (The freighter will burn in the atmosphere and pose no threat to anyone on Earth.)
Five days before the launch (August 5), the team performed a mission dress rehearsal, during which the launch leaders put the launch team to the test. Then, on Friday (August 6), the rocket and spacecraft rolled up to the platform and underwent a two-day system check.
On Monday afternoon, about 24 hours before launch, the rocket was lowered horizontally in order to open the spacecraft for some last-minute payloads. These are time sensitive payloads (like those dealing with biological sciences) that cannot stay inside the cargo ship for too long. Typically, the Cygnus is packed weeks before take off.)
Northrop Grumman’s Kurt Eberly told Monday’s press conference that the ability to put payloads into the spacecraft was later added to the Antares rocket specifically for the company’s second commercial resupply services contract ( CRS-2) with NASA, which started last year. The rocket now flies in what the company calls its 230+ configuration, which means it has late-loading capabilities and can carry a variety of cargo, including larger items that may not fit in others. spacecraft. (This is also in part due to the Cygnus docking at the space station in a larger port than those used by other vehicles.)
Meteorologists predicted that there was an 80% chance of favorable weather conditions on Tuesday. The main concerns are cumulus clouds. If necessary, there are several opportunities to launch a backup, the first being on Wednesday (August 11).
“We are very happy to be part of another commercial replenishment mission,” said Brittney McKinley, Wallops line and Antares program manager at Wallops, during Monday’s briefing. “The Wallops team is ready to support the NG-16 mission with the launch of Antares and the Cygnus spacecraft.”
“The range is green, all systems are nominal and we look forward to a nice launch Tuesday evening.”
Follow Amy Thompson on Twitter @astrogingersnap. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook.
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