Orbital ATK’s Cygnus Spacecraft Successfully Concludes Eighth Cargo Supply Mission to the International Space Station
December 18 2017 - 8:15AM
Business Wire
“S.S. Gene Cernan” Performs Flawlessly as
In-Orbit Research Platform While Attached to Space Station
Cygnus Sets New Records for Disposable Cargo
Removal and Cubesat Deployments
Orbital ATK (NYSE:OA), a global leader in aerospace and defense
technologies, today announced that its “S. S. Gene Cernan” Cygnus™
spacecraft successfully completed its eighth cargo supply mission
to the International Space Station under NASA’s Commercial Resupply
Services (CRS-1) contract. The mission, known as OA-8, achieved
significant milestones that further demonstrated the versatility
and value of the Cygnus spacecraft. Cygnus acted as an extension of
the space station for the first time by supporting science
experiments inside the cargo module while docked to the laboratory.
The Cygnus spacecraft also removed approximately 6,400 pounds
(2,900 kilograms) of items for disposal, marking the largest amount
of material removed by the spacecraft during its cargo resupply
missions. The “S. S. Gene Cernan” then executed flawlessly on
secondary missions that included the deployment of a record 14
cubesats into orbit from a NanoRacks cubesat deployer.
The OA-8 mission officially concluded on December 18 at 7:54 am
EST when Cygnus performed a safe, destructive reentry into the
Earth’s atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean east of New Zealand. The
spacecraft remained docked for 22 days at the orbiting laboratory
and departed the space station on December 6.
“From launch to a safe reentry, Cygnus exceeded expectations on
every aspect of this mission,” said Frank Culbertson, President of
Orbital ATK’s Space Systems Group. “We made history by successfully
hosting science experiments for the first time while attached to
the space station, removed a record amount of materials for
disposal and deployed the highest number of cubesats yet on a
secondary mission. Our success is a fitting tribute to Gene Cernan,
one of the great space pioneers in our industry and we are proud to
have flown Cygnus in his name.”
The OA-8 mission began on November 12 when Cygnus launched
aboard an Orbital ATK Antares™ rocket at NASA’s Wallops Flight
Facility. Upon arrival at the orbiting laboratory, Cygnus delivered
approximately 7,400 pounds (3,350 kilograms) of cargo and science
experiments to the astronauts.
Pending NASA’s specific cargo needs, Orbital ATK is prepared to
launch two additional CRS missions next year aboard the company’s
Antares rockets from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in
Virginia.
B-roll and animation footage for the OA-8 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 13,000 people across the U.S. and in several
international locations. For more information, visit
www.orbitalatk.com.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171218005554/en/
Media:Orbital ATKVicki Cox, (410) 409-8723Space Systems
Group Public Relationsvicki.cox@orbitalatk.comorInvestor
Contact:Orbital ATKBarron Beneski, (703) 406-5528Public and
Investor Relationsbarron.beneski@orbitalatk.com
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