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Orbital ATK’s Cygnus spacecraft to deliver new research to the ISS

October 19th, 2016

What orbits Earth at more than 17,000 miles per hour, is carrying astronauts from around the world, and is about to receive a special delivery from one of our founding members?

The International Space Station!

This unique platform, about to be resupplied by Orbital ATK, enables groundbreaking research to be conducted in space.

The Orbital ATK Antares rocket, with the Cygnus spacecraft onboard, launches from Pad-0A, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016 at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Orbital ATK’s sixth contracted cargo resupply mission with NASA to the International Space Station is delivering over 5,100 pounds of science and research, crew supplies and vehicle hardware to the orbital laboratory and its crew. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

The Orbital ATK Antares rocket, with the Cygnus spacecraft onboard, launches from Pad-0A, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016 at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Orbital ATK’s sixth contracted cargo resupply mission with NASA to the International Space Station is delivering over 5,100 pounds of science and research, crew supplies and vehicle hardware to the orbital laboratory and its crew. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

This mission to resupply the International Space Station (ISS) launched from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on Monday, October 17th. The spacecraft carrying the cargo is called Cygnus, and is bringing more than 5,100 pounds of supplies to the orbiting laboratory.

Computer representation of Cygnus. Credit: NASA TV

Computer representation of Cygnus. Credit: NASA TV

The rocket used to launch Cygnus is an upgraded Antares 230. Cygnus also has new fuel tanks and UltraFlex solar arrays which allow it to carry more cargo.

In addition to current studies, what new research will be conducted onboard the ISS utilizing cargo that Cygnus will soon deliver?

–The examination of low-temperature flames could be used in the development of new fuels or engines with more efficiency.

–A new lighting system aims to improve crew health as well as help keep a schedule of more ordinary working and resting times.

–Astronauts will use a new tablet app that will help them gather personal data on nutrition, sleep, exercise and medications.

–High-energy neutrons will be studied in a new way. Neutrons make up a part of the astronauts’ radiation exposure.

Cygnus will arrive at the ISS on October 23rd and stay until November, at which time it will detach from the station and burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere during reentry. This will dispose of approximately 3,000 pounds of trash from the ISS.

The ISS has been a continually-manned research platform for more than fifteen years and continues to pave the way for human exploration of deep space and the Journey to Mars.

Want to learn more about the International Space Station? Check out NASA.gov.

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