{"id":19426,"date":"2016-03-22T21:56:03","date_gmt":"2016-03-22T13:56:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/cygnus-cargo-craft-heads-for-space-station-with-3-d-printer-and-more-cool-gizmos\/"},"modified":"2016-03-22T21:56:03","modified_gmt":"2016-03-22T13:56:03","slug":"cygnus-cargo-craft-heads-for-space-station-with-3-d-printer-and-more-cool-gizmos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/cygnus-cargo-craft-heads-for-space-station-with-3-d-printer-and-more-cool-gizmos\/","title":{"rendered":"Cygnus cargo craft heads for space station with 3-D printer and more cool gizmos"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Cygnus
United Launch Alliance\u2019s Atlas 5 rocket lifts off, sending Orbital ATK\u2019s Cygnus cargo capsule into space from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. (Credit: NASA)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Orbital ATK\u2019s commercial Cygnus cargo capsule was lofted into orbit tonight atop an Atlas 5 rocket, carrying an upgraded 3-D printer, a gecko-type gripper, a fire-starting experiment and tons of other supplies to the International Space Station.<\/p>\n

The launch vehicle made an on-time departure from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 11:05 p.m. ET (8:05 p.m. PT). If all goes according to plan, astronauts will grapple the uncrewed Cygnus spacecraft with the station\u2019s robotic arm and pull it in to its berthing port on the Unity node on Saturday.<\/p>\n

This will be Orbital ATK\u2019s fourth delivery to the station under the terms of a $1.9 billion contract with NASA, and the second to make use of United Launch Alliance\u2019s Atlas 5. Orbital ATK had to turn to the Atlas when its own Antares rocket blew up shortly after launch in October 2014, destroying a Cygnus shipment. A redesigned Antares is expected to make its debut later this spring.<\/p>\n