{"id":13231,"date":"2019-04-16T20:24:28","date_gmt":"2019-04-16T12:24:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/northrop-grumman-introducing-new-capabilities-on-cygnus-cargo-craft\/"},"modified":"2019-04-16T20:24:28","modified_gmt":"2019-04-16T12:24:28","slug":"northrop-grumman-introducing-new-capabilities-on-cygnus-cargo-craft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/northrop-grumman-introducing-new-capabilities-on-cygnus-cargo-craft\/","title":{"rendered":"Northrop Grumman introducing new capabilities on Cygnus cargo craft"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
File photo of a Cygnus supply ship departing the International Space Station on Northrop Grumman\u2019s 10th cargo mission Feb. 8. Credit: NASA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The next Cygnus resupply mission to the International Space Station set for liftoff Wednesday from Virginia\u2019s Eastern Shore will introduce new capabilities for the commercial cargo freighter, including a longer operating life enabled by fuel-saving gyroscopes to support an extended mission months after the spacecraft departs the International Space Station, Northrop Grumman officials said.<\/p>\n

The Cygnus supply ship is set for liftoff at 4:46 p.m. EDT (2046 GMT) Wednesday from launch pad 0A at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, located at NASA\u2019s Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia\u2019s Eastern Shore. A two-stage Antares rocket will power the Cygnus spacecraft into orbit on the first leg of a journey to the space station set to conclude with the supply ship\u2019s capture with the lab\u2019s Canadian-built robotic arm around 5:30 a.m. EDT (0930 GMT) Friday.<\/p>\n

Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor on the Antares rocket and Cygnus spacecraft programs, and company officials said Tuesday that the mission set for launch Wednesday \u2014 the 11th Cygnus resupply flight under a $2.89 billion contract with NASA \u2014 will debut several new capabilities allowing the cargo craft to accommodate more science experiments, and potentially missions into deep space in support of NASA\u2019s moon landing ambitions.<\/p>\n

A package of four control moment gyroscopes is installed aboard the Cygnus spacecraft for a demonstration after the supply ship completes its cargo delivery at the space station. Using momentum to manage the spacecraft\u2019s pointing, or attitude, the four spinning gyroscopes will reduce the Cygnus spacecraft\u2019s consumption of liquid propellants, which feed thrusters normally used to change the supply ship\u2019s orientation.<\/p>\n

The innovation will allow the Cygnus spacecraft to remain in orbit for up to a year. Cygnus missions have previously lasted no more than three or four months.<\/p>\n

The extended mission will only begin after the Cygnus supply ship departs the space station in July, completing the spacecraft\u2019s primary objective. The Cygnus mission, designated NG-11, will blast off with 7,575 pounds (3,436 kilograms) of cargo, including new flying robots that could help astronauts with chores on the space station, medical experiments, and 40 mice to be studied by astronauts and researchers to examine how their immune systems cope with the conditions of spaceflight.<\/p>\n

Powered by two kerosene-fueled Russian RD-181 main engines and a U.S.-built solid-fueled Castor 30XL upper stage, the Antares rocket will place the Cygnus spacecraft into orbit around nine minutes after liftoff, kicking off the freighter\u2019s pursuit of the space station.<\/p>\n

After Friday\u2019s arrival, the station crew will unpack around 6,971 pounds (3,162 kilograms) of food, crew provisions and science experiments from the Cygnus spacecraft\u2019s pressurized cargo module, built by Thales Alenia Space in Italy, then repack the ship with trash before its departure in late July.<\/p>\n

After release from the station\u2019s robotic arm, the cargo craft will boost itself into a higher orbit for deployment of several CubeSats, similar to maneuvers accomplished by previous Cygnus missions. But instead of commanding the spacecraft to plunge back into the atmosphere for a destructive re-entry, Northrop Grumman ground controllers will begin the extended mission experiment.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll use the control moment gyros to control the spacecraft attitude, as opposed to fuel,\u201d said Frank DeMauro, vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman\u2019s space systems division.<\/p>\n

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Four control moment gyroscopes, and their associated power and control electronics, are housed in a 17-inch (43-centimeter) cube package on the Cygnus spacecraft\u2019s service module. Credit: Northrop Grumman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Northrop Grumman officials previously said the extended mission demo could last a year, but DeMauro said the mission\u2019s duration will depend on when engineers accomplish all their objectives.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow long we go really will depend on when we achieve our goals for the extended mission (demonstration),\u201d DeMauro said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to accomplish a couple of things,\u201d he said. \u201cFirst, we want to show how the spacecraft works with the CMGs (control moment gyroscopes) and demonstrate that our platform can use CMGs \u2014 not only our platform but other Northrop Grumman spacecraft platforms.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe second thing we want to do is show that the avionics can run for extended period of time,\u201d DeMauro said. \u201cWe\u2019ve typically run them for several months as we\u2019ve gone through testing, and then in orbit they run for three to four months, depending on how long we\u2019re in orbit. This time, we want to demonstrate an even longer period of time that the computers run error-free, and that the attitude control system works just as expected.\u201d<\/p>\n

The control moment gyroscopes were built by Honeywell, using new miniaturized technology that could be used on future small satellites.<\/p>\n

Northrop Grumman wants to keep the NG-11 Cygnus spacecraft in orbit through the launch of the company\u2019s next resupply mission to the space station, designated NG-12, currently scheduled for October.<\/p>\n

Officials want to offer the Cygnus spacecraft as a hosting platform for science and technology experiments after it leaves the space station. DeMauro said the Cygnus spacecraft provides a smooth microgravity environment for research in orbit, even better than the space station, which has disturbances from the movement of crew members and other external influences. The use of gyroscopes will make for more pristine microgravity conditions, eliminating impulses from thruster firings to change the ship\u2019s orientation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe idea is that for future missions, we can outfit Cygnus to have the extended duration, and then after we complete the primary mission, offer this extended duration to either the government or commercial entities,\u201d DeMauro said in an interview Tuesday with Spaceflight Now. \u201cWe want to give them enough time in orbit that isn\u2019t restricted by when the next mission goes up, so having the ability to fly two Cygnus (spacecraft) in orbit at the same time is critical.\u201d<\/p>\n

Like past Cygnus missions, the spacecraft will re-enter the atmosphere and burn up over the Pacific Ocean once the extended duration demonstration is complete.<\/p>\n

The NG-11 mission is the last Cygnus flight under Northrop Grumman\u2019s first cargo transportation contract with NASA, a deal originally signed in 2008. The company has a follow-on Commercial Resupply Services, or CRS-2, contract for at least six additional Cygnus missions through 2024, beginning with the NG-12 mission later this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur push is to offer NASA increased science capability on each mission,\u201d DeMauro said.<\/p>\n

\"\"
The modified payload fairing of Northrop Grumman\u2019s Antares rocket features a removable top to give workers access to the Cygnus spacecraft for late cargo loading at the launch pad. Credit: Northrop Grumman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For the first time, ground teams at Wallops planned to load time-sensitive cargo into the Cygnus spacecraft at the launch pad Tuesday night, less than 24 hours before liftoff. Northrop Grumman developed a new mobile clean room to be positioned over the Antares rocket\u2019s payload shroud, with the launcher lowered back to a horizontal position following preliminary pre-launch checkouts.<\/p>\n

Technicians removed the top of the payload fairing, known as the \u201cpop-top,\u201d and opened the Cygnus hatch to allow teams to load the enclosure containing the rodent research experiment. The NG-11 mission marks the first time a rodent research payload has flown aboard a Cygnus supply ship, following multiple missions on SpaceX\u2019s Dragon cargo capsule.<\/p>\n

The NG-11 mission will also debut a new navigation system on the Antares rocket, ahead of additional launcher upgrades coming with the first CRS-2 mission later this year.<\/p>\n

Engineers will beef up the Antares rocket\u2019s structure for the next mission to allow the first stage\u2019s twin RD-181 engines to fly at full throttle as the launcher flies through the most extreme period of aerodynamic pressure, or Max-Q, after liftoff. The engines are currently throttled back to around 55 percent power to ease the passage through Max-Q.<\/p>\n

Northrop Grumman is also removing some unnecessary insulation from the Castor 30XL upper stage, and switching from a three-piece fairing adapter to a lighter structure. Future Antares rockets will also fly with two fewer helium pressurization bottles in the first stage, hardware that data from previous launches indicated was not required. The changes will increase the mass of payloads the Antares rocket can loft into orbit.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat will enable us to pack even more cargo into the cargo modules,\u201d DeMauro said. \u201cWe\u2019ve made some more modifications to be able to pack it more efficiently. That will be able to give us another 10 percent or so more cargo in the same volume.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Cygnus team has taken a step-by-step approach with upgrades since the spacecraft\u2019s inaugural mission.<\/p>\n

Since the Antares rocket and Cygnus spacecraft\u2019s first missions in 2013, engineers from Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems \u2014 previously known as Orbital Sciences and Orbital ATK \u2014 have introduced a larger Thales-built cargo module and debuted new RD-181 engines for the Antares first stage. Officials replaced the Antares rocket\u2019s original AJ26 first stage engines after one of the powerplants failed on a 2014 launch, destroying a Cygnus spacecraft heading for the space station and damaging the launch pad at Wallops Island.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Artist\u2019s concept of a Gateway station near the moon using Cygnus-derived modules. Credit: Northrop Grumman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

DeMauro said the expanded performance and longer lifetime of the newest generation of Cygnus supply ships positions the spacecraft for more demanding missions in the future, including flights into deep space to support NASA\u2019s plans to build a mini-space station called the Gateway in lunar orbit, with a goal set by the Trump administration of landing astronauts on the moon as soon as 2024.<\/p>\n

\u201cGoing out to cislunar space will be a little bit different,\u201d DeMauro said. \u201cSo we\u2019ve looked at the avionics upgrades required for the higher radiation environment, different communications systems, docking versus berthing systems.\u201d<\/p>\n

Northrop Grumman has a NASA contract to develop a habitat concept based on the Cygnus design, which could be attached to NASA\u2019s Gateway around the moon to provide living quarters for astronauts. Lunar landers could be staged at the Gateway for trips to and from the moon\u2019s surface.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe think we\u2019re in a good place to offer NASA a proven, yet upgraded technology suite on a Cygnus-class vehicle to provide all sorts of services out in cislunar space, whether it\u2019s habitats, logistics services, science and utilization services, as well as even power and propulsion systems out there. Cygnus is a stepping stone from that point of view,\u201d DeMauro said.<\/p>\n

The Cygnus spacecraft set for launch Wednesday is named the \u201cS.S. Roger Chaffee\u201d after the late astronaut who perished in the Apollo 1 fire at Cape Canaveral in 1967.<\/p>\n

\u201cGiven that Lt. Cmdr. Chaffee never made it into space, which was his dream, we decided to name this vehicle the S.S. Roger Chaffee in his honor,\u201d DeMauro said. \u201cIt\u2019s something that\u2019s very special to us, and it\u2019s very special to his family, and to all of the team.\u201d<\/p>\n

Members of the Chaffee family will attend Wednesday\u2019s launch from Wallops Island.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s just something that makes this extra special, so we\u2019re looking forward to seeing them here,\u201d DeMauro said.<\/p>\n

Email the author.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Follow Stephen Clark on Twitter: @StephenClark1.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

File photo of a Cygnus supply ship departing the International Space Station on Northrop Grumman\u2019s 10th cargo mission Feb. 8. Credit: NASA The next Cygnus resupply mission to the International Space Station set for liftoff Wednesday from Virginia\u2019s Eastern Shore will introduce new capabilities for the commercial cargo freighter, including a longer operating life enabled […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[1871,2047,2048,291,1608,639,717,1602],"class_list":["post-13231","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-antares","tag-antares-230","tag-castor-30xl","tag-commercial-space","tag-cubesats","tag-cygnus","tag-international-space-station","tag-iss-cargo"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13231"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13231"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13231\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13231"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13231"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13231"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}