• Home
  • Science
  • Technology
  • Futurism
  • Weather Extreme

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

What's Hot

Pixel 8's Tensor G3 gets leaked detailing all of its main specs

June 5, 2023

Tiny DNA Circles Defying Genetic Laws Drive Cancer Formation

June 5, 2023

BTQ Technologies Publishes Research Paper on Proof-of-Work Consensus by Quantum Sampling

June 5, 2023
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
Futurist JournalFuturist Journal
Demo
  • Home
  • Science
  • Technology
  • Futurism
  • Weather Extreme
Futurist JournalFuturist Journal
Home » Northrop Grumman will launch a Cygnus cargo ship to the space station today. Here’s how to watch live.
Latest Science

Northrop Grumman will launch a Cygnus cargo ship to the space station today. Here’s how to watch live.

NewsBy NewsAugust 10, 2021Updated:August 10, 2021No Comments5 Mins Read0 Views
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Telegram Tumblr Email
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

WALLOPS ISLAND, Va. — NASA and Northrop Grumman are teaming up to launch a cargo capsule to the International Space Station today (Aug. 10), and you can watch the action live online. 

The Cygnus NG-16 spacecraft will blast off atop a two-stage 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 resupply mission to the ISS for NASA. 

You can watch the launch live here on Space.com, courtesy of NASA TV, beginning at 5:30 p.m. EDT (2130 GMT). You can also watch it directly from NASA TV here. 

Related: Blobs in space and other cool science launching to the space station

A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket carrying a Cygnus resupply spacecraft is seen on Pad-0A at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, on Aug. 7, 2021. (Image credit: Terry Zaperach/NASA)

Northrop Grumman is one of NASA’s commercial partners that keeps the space station well-stocked with supplies as part of the agency’s commercial cargo resupply program. The silvery spacecraft is loaded with 8,200 pounds (3,700 kilograms) of crew supplies, hardware and research experiments for the Expedition 65 crew.

Following liftoff, the bus-sized Cygnus spacecraft will spend two days in space chasing after the International Space Station (ISS). Once it arrives, the spacecraft will berth to the orbital outpost with the help of the station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm. 

“I’m looking forward to our sweet 16 mission in support of NASA and our commercial partners as we continue the journey of human space exploration,” Frank DeMauro, vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman’s Tactical Space Systems division said during a news conference Monday (Aug. 9).

Northrop Grumman built both the rocket and the spacecraft, and the contractor has a tradition of naming each of its cargo capsules after an individual who made a significant contribution to human spaceflight. For this mission, the Cygnus is named the S.S. Ellison Onizuka, after the first Asian American astronaut, who lost his life on the space shuttle Challenger in 1986. 

Born in Hawaii, Onizuka always dreamt about flying to the stars. He got his chance in 1978 when he was selected by NASA to become an astronaut. Following a successful career in the military as a test pilot, Onizuka was an inspiration for the Asian-American community and for those who wanted to explore new horizons. 

“The S.S. Ellison Onizuka will serve as a shining example that racial barriers and glass ceilings are meant to be shattered,” DeMauro said during Monday’s briefing. 

According to NASA officials, the S.S. Ellison Onizuka will remain attached to the space station for approximately three months. At the end of its mission, the space station astronauts will load it with trash before sending it off for a destructive reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere. (The freighter will burn up in the atmosphere and poses no threat to anyone on Earth.)

Image 1 of 3

A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket carrying a Cygnus resupply spacecraft is seen as it is transported to the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport’s Pad-0A, Friday, Aug. 10, 2021, at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

Northrop Grumman’s Antares rocket and Cygnus spacecraft are transported to the launchpad on Aug. 10, 2021. (Image credit: Brian Bonsteel/NASA)
Image 2 of 3

A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket carrying a Cygnus resupply spacecraft arrives at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport’s Pad-0A, Friday, Aug. 6,, 2021, at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket carrying the Cygnus NG-16 resupply spacecraft arrives at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport’s Pad-0A, on Aug. 6, 2021, at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. (Image credit: Brian Bonsteel/NASA)
Image 3 of 3

A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket carrying a Cygnus resupply spacecraft is seen at sunrise on Pad-0A at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, on Aug. 7, 2021.

A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket carrying a Cygnus resupply spacecraft is seen at sunrise on Pad-0A at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, on Aug. 7, 2021. (Image credit: Terry Zaperach/NASA)

Five days prior to launch (Aug. 5), the team ran through a mission dress rehearsal, during which the launch conductors put the launch team through its paces. Then on Friday (Aug. 6), the rocket and spacecraft rolled to the pad and went through two days of system checkouts. 

On Monday afternoon, approximately 24-hours before launch, the rocket was lowered to horizontal in order to open up the spacecraft for some last-minute payloads. These are time-sensitive payloads (like those dealing with biological sciences) that cannot sit inside the cargo craft for too long. Typically the Cygnus is packed weeks before liftoff.)

Kurt Eberly of Northrop Grumman said in Monday’s news conference that the ability to put payloads into the spacecraft later was 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 that it has late load capabilities and can carry a variety of cargo, including larger objects that may not fit inside other spacecraft. (That’s also in part due to the fact that the Cygnus berths to the space station at a larger port than the ones used by other vehicles.) 

Weather forecasters have predicted there’s an 80% chance of favorable weather conditions on Tuesday. The primary concerns are cumulus clouds. If needed, there are several backup launch opportunities, with the first being on Wednesday (Aug. 11). 

“We’re very excited to be a part of another commercial resupply mission,” Brittney McKinley, Wallops range and Antares program manager at Wallops, said during Monday’s briefing. “The Wallops team is ready to support the NG-16 mission with the launch of Antares and the Cygnus spacecraft.” 

“Range is green, all systems are nominal and we look forward to a beautiful Tuesday evening launch.”

Follow Amy Thompson on Twitter @astrogingersnap. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook. 

Source

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
News
  • Website

Related Posts

Tiny DNA Circles Defying Genetic Laws Drive Cancer Formation

June 5, 2023

A Magical Combination – Scientists Develop a New Class of Materials

June 5, 2023

Webb Telescope Unlocks Secrets of Star Formation

June 5, 2023

Scientists ‘stunned’ by mysterious structures found in the Milky Way

June 4, 2023

Metal Fuel for Carbon-Free Energy on Earth… and the Moon

June 4, 2023

One of Saturn’s Moons Is Spraying Epic Water Plumes

June 4, 2023

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Recent Posts
  • Pixel 8's Tensor G3 gets leaked detailing all of its main specs
  • Tiny DNA Circles Defying Genetic Laws Drive Cancer Formation
  • BTQ Technologies Publishes Research Paper on Proof-of-Work Consensus by Quantum Sampling
  • 2 hidden paraglider skins discovered in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
  • EESL targets ceiling fans in energy efficiency drive
Recent Comments
    Demo
    Top Posts

    Chinese granny finds online fame for depiction of elderly loneliness

    December 4, 20219 Views

    Starbucks Teases Web 3 Platform in NFT Announcement

    May 4, 20225 Views

    Pandas AI: The Generative AI Python Library

    May 16, 20234 Views
    Don't Miss

    Pixel 8's Tensor G3 gets leaked detailing all of its main specs

    June 5, 2023

    Google’s Tensor G3 has seemingly been leaked, and it looks like a major improvement over…

    Tiny DNA Circles Defying Genetic Laws Drive Cancer Formation

    June 5, 2023

    BTQ Technologies Publishes Research Paper on Proof-of-Work Consensus by Quantum Sampling

    June 5, 2023

    2 hidden paraglider skins discovered in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

    June 5, 2023
    Stay In Touch
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • TikTok
    • WhatsApp
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    Latest Reviews
    Demo
    Most Popular

    Chinese granny finds online fame for depiction of elderly loneliness

    December 4, 20219 Views

    Starbucks Teases Web 3 Platform in NFT Announcement

    May 4, 20225 Views

    Pandas AI: The Generative AI Python Library

    May 16, 20234 Views
    Our Picks

    Pixel 8's Tensor G3 gets leaked detailing all of its main specs

    June 5, 2023

    Tiny DNA Circles Defying Genetic Laws Drive Cancer Formation

    June 5, 2023

    BTQ Technologies Publishes Research Paper on Proof-of-Work Consensus by Quantum Sampling

    June 5, 2023
    Editor's Pick

    Icy roads expected for Friday morning commute as winter storm moves in

    February 3, 2022

    Revelations From Bones of Fish That Died When the Asteroid Hit

    February 23, 2022

    Couple survive car crash and fall, rescued using iPhone

    December 17, 2022
    Futurist Journal
    Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest YouTube Dribbble
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    © 2023 futuristjournal.com - All Rights Reserved.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.