Orbital ATK Set to Launch Seventh Cargo Delivery Mission to International Space Station
April 17 2017 - 3:00PM
Business Wire
OA-7 Mission Features Third Cygnus Used as
Platform to Conduct Scientific Experiments
Cygnus Spacecraft Named "S.S. John Glenn" in
Honor of Former NASA Astronaut and U.S. Senator
Orbital ATK (NYSE: OA), a global leader in aerospace and defense
technologies, today announced final preparations for the company’s
next Cygnus™ spacecraft cargo mission to the International Space
Station. The mission, known as OA-7, marks the seventh operational
mission for NASA under the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-1)
contract and the third Cygnus to conduct scientific experiments
onboard the spacecraft. A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V
rocket will launch Cygnus into low-Earth orbit with approximately
7,626 pounds (3,459 kilograms) of crew supplies, scientific
research and hardware to astronauts aboard the station and small
satellites that will be deployed directly from the spacecraft.
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Orbital ATK's Cygnus commercial cargo
space vehicle is in position atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5
rocket for tomorrow's launch at the Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station in Florida. (Photo: Business Wire)
Pending completion of final vehicle testing and acceptable local
weather conditions, the launch is scheduled for April 18 at 11:11
a.m. (EDT) from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station in Florida. The spacecraft is slated to rendezvous and
berth with the space station on April 22. Live coverage of the
launch will be available on NASA Television at
http://www.nasa.gov/ntv. OA-7 mission details can be accessed on
the Orbital ATK website at
http://www.orbitalatk.com/newsroom/feature-stories/OA7-Mission-Page
and on Twitter: @orbitalatk
Orbital ATK names each of its Cygnus spacecraft in honor of
astronauts and individuals who contributed to the United States’
commercial space program. The OA-7 mission recognizes former
astronaut and U.S. Senator John Glenn who passed away last
December. Glenn, an American hero of the space age, inspired the
nation to reach new heights in exploration from moon missions to
the space shuttle and the International Space Station.
“As we count down to launch, we are proud and humbled to name
the OA-7 Cygnus spacecraft in honor of John Glenn, the first
American to orbit earth,” said Frank Culbertson, President of
Orbital ATK’s Space Systems Group. “The S.S. John Glenn is
dedicated to his legacy as a lifelong pioneer of human spaceflight
who paved the way for America’s space program. The vital supplies
we deliver to the astronauts on this mission and the scientific
experiments we conduct for future exploration are a testament to
his incredible achievements that will never be forgotten.”
Once launched into low-Earth orbit, Cygnus will use its advanced
maneuvering capability to transport its cargo from a low-parking
orbit to the space station, where it will be grappled by the crew
using the station’s robotic arm and then berthed to the orbiting
laboratory. Among the cargo that will be delivered are four powered
mid-deck lockers that carry critical science research experiments
for the crew. Resembling freezers, these lockers receive power from
Cygnus in order to maintain a constant internal temperature after
they are loaded into the pressurized cargo module.
After the cargo is removed and disposal items are loaded, Cygnus
will depart from the station in mid-June and conduct three
secondary payload missions. Cygnus will carry the Spacecraft Fire
Experiment-III (Saffire-III) marking the third time that the
spacecraft has been used for these investigations as a unique
environment to study fires in microgravity. Designed by the NASA
Glenn Research Center, the results from the Saffire-III experiment
will enable NASA to develop technologies to reduce crew risk and
make deep space exploration safer for astronauts. NASA’s Advanced
Explorations Systems Division sponsors the Saffire series of
experiments as part of its deep space habitation development
efforts that include technologies to make deep space exploration
safer. In addition, a NanoRacks deployer will release four cubesats
used for weather monitoring and global ship tracking. The final
experiment will use three Reentry Data Collection Flight Recorders
to provide crucial data about the extreme conditions a spacecraft
encounters when reentering the Earth’s atmosphere. This specific
experiment will also test the performance of different heat shield
materials that may be used on future U.S. space missions.
Pending NASA’s specific cargo needs, Orbital ATK is prepared to
launch two additional CRS missions this year that will launch
aboard the company’s Antares rockets from NASA Wallops Flight
Facility in Virginia. Beginning in 2019, Orbital ATK will conduct a
minimum of six initial cargo missions under NASA’s CRS-2
contract.
B-roll and animation footage for the mission can be found
here: http://www.orbitalatk.com/news-room/bmc/#. Please note
that media will be prompted to request a PIN for access.
About Orbital ATK
Orbital ATK is a global leader in aerospace and defense
technologies. The company designs, builds and delivers space,
defense and aviation systems for customers around the world, both
as a prime contractor and merchant supplier. Its main products
include launch vehicles and related propulsion systems; missile
products, subsystems and defense electronics; precision weapons,
armament systems and ammunition; satellites and associated space
components and services; and advanced aerospace structures.
Headquartered in Dulles, Virginia, Orbital ATK employs
approximately 12,500 people in 18 states across the U.S. and in
several international locations. For more information, visit
www.orbitalatk.com.
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Orbital ATKMedia Contact:Vicki Cox, 410-409-8723Space
Systems Group Public Relationsvicki.cox@orbitalatk.comorInvestor
Contact:Barron Beneski, 703-406-5528Public and Investor
Relationsbarron.beneski@orbitalatk.com
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