Cygnus (spacecraft)
Uncrewed cargo spacecraft developed by Orbital Sciences / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Cygnus is an expendable American cargo spacecraft developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation, manufactured and launched by Northrop Grumman Space Systems, as part of NASA's Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) program. It is usually launched by Northrop Grumman's Antares rocket from the Wallops Flight Facility, although three flights were on ULA's Atlas V and one, with two additional planned flights, on SpaceX's Falcon 9, in both cases launching from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. It transports supplies to the International Space Station (ISS) following the retirement of the American Space Shuttle. Since August 2000, ISS resupply missions have been regularly flown by the Russian Progress spacecraft, as well as by the European Automated Transfer Vehicle, and the Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle. With the Cygnus spacecraft and the SpaceX Dragon, NASA seeks to increase its partnerships with the domestic (U. S.) commercial aviation and aeronautics industry.[2]
Manufacturer | Northrop Grumman |
---|---|
Country of origin | United States |
Operator | Northrop Grumman |
Applications | ISS resupply |
Specifications | |
Spacecraft type | Uncrewed cargo vehicle |
Launch mass | 6,600 kg |
Dry mass | 3,400 kg |
Payload capacity | 3,000 kg |
Volume | 18.9 m3 |
Power | 3.5 kW |
Design life | 1 week to 2 years [1] |
Dimensions | |
Length | 5.1 m |
Diameter | 3.07 m |
Production | |
Status | In service |
On order | 5 |
Built | 21 |
Launched | 20 |
Operational | 1 |
Retired | 18 |
Lost | 1 |
Maiden launch | 18 September 2013 |
Last launch | 30 January 2024 |
Cygnus is the Latinized Greek word for swan and a northern constellation.