Cygnus OA-9 (CRS-9) - Antares-230 - MARS LP-0A - 21.05.2018 08:44 UTC

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05/24/2018 11:25 Stephen Clark

The Cygnus spacecraft is currently holding around 250 meters, or 820 feet, beneath the International Space Station. This pause allows mission controllers to evaluate the status of all key systems on both vehicles before clearing Cygnus to approach inside the "keep out sphere," an imaginary bubble stretching 200 meters, or 656 feet, fr om the complex on all sides.

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The last major course correction burn, known as ADV3, was completed less than an ago to put Cygnus on track to arrive directly below the space station.

The Cygnus spacecraft is making its automated approach aided by GPS navigation and laser instruments designed to determine the range and closing rate between the cargo ship and the huge 450-ton space station.

The Cygnus first relied on comparing GPS navigation data from its on-board computer and the space station.

On this mission, Cygnus is flying for the first time with a new communications system to establish radio links between the approaching supply ship and the space station. The Common Communication for Visiting Vehicles (C2V2) system being demonstrated by the Cygnus spacecraft today will be used for two-way voice and data links between all future U.S. cargo and crew vehicles as they approach the station.

After arriving at a hold point about 820 feet directly below the space station, Cygnus will switch to a TriDAR sensor, which uses triangulation and fires light pulses and measures their reflections from the space station to measure the range and closing rate between the two vehicles.

The laser-guided visual navigation system feeds data into the Cygnus guidance computer, telling the spacecraft when and wh ere to fire its rocket jets to maneuver the unmanned freighter to a point 30 feet below the space station.

Once Cygnus arrives at a hold point just below the complex around 5:12 a.m. EDT (0912 GMT), astronauts Scott Tingle and Ricky Arnold will take control of the lab's robot arm to reach out and grapple the free-floating Cygnus spacecraft at 5:20 a.m. EDT (0920 GMT).

The robot arm will maneuver the Cygnus spacecraft onto the Unity module's Earth-facing berthing port about two hours later.

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Orbital ATK‏Подлинная учетная запись @OrbitalATK 48 сек. назад

Vehicle checks are complete and #Cygnus has been given the go ahead to continue its approach to the @Space_Station. Capture still targeted for 5:20 am EDT/9:20 UTC this morning

[tnt22]

05/24/2018 11:32 Stephen Clark

The Cygnus spacecraft, fitted with a pressurized cargo compartment built by Thales Alenia Space in Italy containing around 3,268 kilograms, or 7,205 pounds, of supplies, is moving toward a hold point 30 meters, or 98 feet, from the space station.

[tnt22]

Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight 3 мин. назад

Departing 250 meter hold point. Now about to enter the KOS (Keep Out Sphere) that surrounds the ISS. Hold you remembered to bring your passport, Cygnus!

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Подход к точке 30 м

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Прошли отметку 100 м

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Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight 34 сек. назад

Cygnus needs to match the overlap. Currently offset to the port side.

[tnt22]

Orbital ATK‏Подлинная учетная запись @OrbitalATK 24 сек. назад

#Cygnus is 50 meters below the @Space_Station and closing

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40 м

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Orbital ATK‏Подлинная учетная запись @OrbitalATK 22 сек. назад

We have reached the 30 meter holding point #Cygnus #OA9

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05/24/2018 11:59 Stephen Clark

Cygnus is now holding at a distance of 30 meters, or 98 feet, from the International Space Station. This hold is expected to last around 10 minutes.

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Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight 2 мин. назад

Stage is set. SSRMS has its prey in its sights.

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Orbital ATK‏Подлинная учетная запись @OrbitalATK 4 мин. назад

We are GO for final approach to @Space_Station! #Cygnus will now proceed to the capture point 10 meters below the station. #OA9