NASA targets August launch for Cygnus resupply
NASA, along with Northrop Grumman and SpaceX, is aiming for an early August launch of the Cygnus spacecraft from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This upcoming mission will be the 21st Northrop Grumman commercial resupply services mission to the orbital laboratory for the agency and is set to be launched atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
Once launched, the Cygnus spacecraft will be captured by the space station's Canadarm2, after which it will be attached to the Unity module's Earth-facing port for cargo unloading. Each resupply mission to the station plays a crucial role in delivering scientific investigations across various disciplines, including biology, biotechnology, Earth and space science, physical sciences, and technology development and demonstrations. The cargo resupply missions from U.S. companies are essential in enabling the delivery of scientific research to the space station, thereby expanding NASA's capacity to conduct new investigations in the space environment.
In addition to transporting food, supplies, and equipment for the crew, the Cygnus spacecraft will also carry out important research activities. This includes supplies for a new STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) demonstration, various test articles for studying water flow in microgravity, vascularized liver tissue, and a bioreactor aimed at demonstrating the production of blood and immune stem cells. The research conducted onboard will provide valuable insights into biomanufacturing in microgravity, with the goal of creating improved and higher-quality treatments for individuals on Earth.
Furthermore, NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative will include the deployment of two CubeSats from the orbiting laboratory: CySat-1 from Iowa State University and DORA from Arizona State University. This deployment is part of ELaNa 52 (Educational Launch of Nanosatellites), showcasing educational opportunities in the field of nanosatellites and providing students with hands-on experience in space research and experimentation.
Original article: https://spaceanddefense.io/nasa-targets-early-august-for-cygnus-spacecraft-resupply-mission/
