{"id":52532,"date":"2015-12-06T23:34:00","date_gmt":"2015-12-07T03:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-375025"},"modified":"2023-07-26T14:47:48","modified_gmt":"2023-07-26T18:47:48","slug":"nasa-cargo-launches-to-space-station-aboard-orbital-atk-resupply-mission","status":"publish","type":"press-release","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasa-cargo-launches-to-space-station-aboard-orbital-atk-resupply-mission\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA Cargo Launches to Space Station Aboard Orbital ATK Resupply Mission"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>New hardware that will support dozens of NASA investigations and other science experiments from around the world is among the more than 7,000 pounds of cargo on the way to the International Space Station aboard Orbital ATK\u2019s Cygnus spacecraft. It launched at 4:44:57 p.m. EST Sunday on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNASA is delighted at the continued progress made possible by our investment in commercial space,\u201d said NASA Deputy Administrator Dava Newman. \u201cAs we celebrate Orbital ATK\u2019s success with its fourth cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station, we look forward to the next milestones of our other commercial partners, including commercial crew launches from American soil in the near future. All these missions are critical to our journey to Mars \u2013 a journey we have already begun.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/oa-4-launch-3g.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1152\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/oa-4-launch-3g.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Cygnus Launches Atop Atlas V\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/oa-4-launch-3g.jpg 4445w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/oa-4-launch-3g.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/oa-4-launch-3g.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/oa-4-launch-3g.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/oa-4-launch-3g.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/oa-4-launch-3g.jpg?resize=2048,1152 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/oa-4-launch-3g.jpg?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/oa-4-launch-3g.jpg?resize=600,337 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/oa-4-launch-3g.jpg?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/oa-4-launch-3g.jpg?resize=1200,675 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/oa-4-launch-3g.jpg?resize=2000,1125 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">The Atlas V launch vehicle lifts off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station carrying a Cygnus resupply spacecraft to the International Space Station. Liftoff was at 4:44 p.m. EST. Science payloads include experiments that will study the behavior of gases and liquids and clarify the thermo-physical properties of molten steel; and evaluations of flame-resistant textiles. <strong>Credits: NASA<\/strong><\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The mission is Orbital ATK\u2019s fourth cargo delivery flight to the station through NASA\u2019s Commercial Resupply Services contract. This is the first flight of an enhanced Cygnus spacecraft to the station. The cargo freighter now features a greater payload capacity, new UltraFlex solar arrays and new fuel tanks. Cygnus\u2019 pressurized cargo module has been extended and increases the spacecraft\u2019s interior volume capacity by 25 percent, allowing more cargo to be delivered with each mission. It\u2019s also the first Cygnus mission using the Atlas V launch system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Science payloads will support science and research investigations that will occur during the space station\u2019s Expeditions 45 and 46, including experiments in biology, biotechnology, physical science and Earth science \u2014 research that impacts life on Earth. Investigations will offer a new life science facility that will support studies on cell cultures, bacteria and other microorganisms, a microsatellite deployer and the first microsatellite that will be deployed from the space station, and experiments that will study the behavior of gases and liquids and clarify the thermo-physical properties of molten steel and evaluations of flame-resistant textiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Space Automated Bioproduct Lab is a new space life science facility that is designed to support a wide variety of fundamental, applied and commercial space life sciences research, as well as education-based investigations for students from kindergarten through university. The facility will support research on microorganisms, such as bacteria, yeast, algae, fungi, and viruses, as well as animal cells and tissues and small plant and animal organisms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NanoRacks-MicroSat-SIMPL is a modular, hyper integrated satellite designed to provide complete satellite functionality in a nanosatellite scale. It will be the first NanoRacks microsatellite deployed from the space station and the first propulsion-capable satellite deployed from the NanoRacks-MicroSat-Deployer known as Kaber. The commercial deployer system aims to address the growing market of customers wanting to deploy microsatellites in orbit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Packed Bed Reactor Experiment studies the behavior of gases and liquids when they flow simultaneously through a column filled with fixed porous media, which is of interest in many chemical and biological processing systems, as well as numerous geophysical applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>BASS-M (Burning and Suppression of Solids \u2013 Milliken) will evaluate flame retardant and resistant textiles as a mode of personal protection from fire-related hazards. Studying flame retardant and resistant behavior of different materials in microgravity will aid in better designs for future textiles and benefit those who wear protective clothing, such as military personnel and civilian workers in the electrical and energy industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Nodes satellites, sponsored by NASA\u2019s Space Technology Mission Directorate and developed by the Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California, consist of two CubeSats weighing 4.5 pounds each and measuring 4 inches by 4 inches by 6.5 inches. They are an example of how technology drives innovation, as they will test new network capabilities for operating swarms of spacecraft in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition, Cygnus will deliver replacement cargo items including a set of Microsoft HoloLens devices for use in NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/press-release\/nasa-microsoft-collaborate-to-bring-science-fiction-to-science-fact\">Sidekick project<\/a>, a safety jet pack astronauts wear during spacewalks known as SAFER, and high pressure <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/content\/air-supply-high-pressure-tanks-ready-for-space-station\">nitrogen and oxygen tanks<\/a> to plug into the station\u2019s air supply network.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/iss045e168057a.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1363\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/iss045e168057a.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Earth's atmosphere at sunset with bright spot of rocket launch visible below\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/iss045e168057a.jpg 4928w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/iss045e168057a.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/iss045e168057a.jpg?resize=768,511 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/iss045e168057a.jpg?resize=1024,682 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/iss045e168057a.jpg?resize=1536,1022 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/iss045e168057a.jpg?resize=2048,1363 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/iss045e168057a.jpg?resize=400,266 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/iss045e168057a.jpg?resize=600,399 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/iss045e168057a.jpg?resize=900,599 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/iss045e168057a.jpg?resize=1200,799 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/iss045e168057a.jpg?resize=2000,1331 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, from his vantage point aboard the International Space Station, photographed the launch of Orbital ATK\u2019s Cygnus cargo spacecraft from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. <strong>Credits: NASA<\/strong><\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Cygnus will be grappled at approximately 6:10 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 9, by NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren, using the space station\u2019s Canadarm2 robotic arm to take hold of the spacecraft. Scott Kelly of NASA will support Lindgren in a backup position. The spacecraft will spend more than a month attached to the space station before its destructive re-entry into Earth\u2019s atmosphere, disposing of about 3,000 pounds of trash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The International Space Station is a convergence of science, technology and human innovation that demonstrates new technologies and makes research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. The space station has been continuously occupied since November 2000. In that time, it has been visited by more than 200 people and a variety of international and commercial spacecraft. The space station remains the springboard to NASA\u2019s next great leap in exploration, including future missions to an asteroid and Mars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more information about Orbital ATK\u2019s mission, visit:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/orbitalatk<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more information about the International Space Station, visit:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/station<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>-end-<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Stephanie Schierholz<br \/>\nHeadquarters, Washington<br \/>\n202-358-1100<br \/>\nstephanie.schierholz@nasa.gov<br \/>\nDan Huot<br \/>\nJohnson Space Center, Houston<br \/>\n281-483-5111<br \/>\ndaniel.g.huot@nasa.gov<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>New hardware that will support dozens of NASA investigations and other science experiments from around the world is among the more than 7,000 pounds of cargo on the way to the International Space Station aboard Orbital ATK\u2019s Cygnus spacecraft. It launched at 4:44:57 p.m. EST Sunday on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":54578,"template":"","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"15-229","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"RELEASE","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[]},"categories":[2854,3190,2801,3144,2656,2735,2862,2864,2867],"news-tags":[12350],"internal-terms":[9516,9508],"coauthors":[],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"NASA Cargo Launches to Space Station Aboard Orbital ATK Resupply Mission","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasa-cargo-launches-to-space-station-aboard-orbital-atk-resupply-mission\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasa-cargo-launches-to-space-station-aboard-orbital-atk-resupply-mission\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/oa-4-launch-3g.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/oa-4-launch-3g.jpg"},"articleSection":"NASA Centers & Facilities","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"NASA"}],"creator":["NASA"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["NASA Centers & Facilities","NASA Headquarters","Ames Research Center","Commercial Resupply","Commercial Space","Expedition 45","Humans in Space","International Space Station (ISS)","Kennedy Space Center","Marshall Space Flight Center"],"dateCreated":"2015-12-07T03:34:00Z","datePublished":"2015-12-07T03:34:00Z","dateModified":"2023-07-26T18:47:48Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"NASA Cargo Launches to Space Station Aboard Orbital ATK Resupply Mission\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasa-cargo-launches-to-space-station-aboard-orbital-atk-resupply-mission\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/oa-4-launch-3g.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2015-12-07T03:34:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"NASA Centers & Facilities\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"NASA Centers & Facilities,NASA Headquarters,Ames Research Center,Commercial Resupply,Commercial Space,Expedition 45,Humans in Space,International Space Station (ISS),Kennedy Space Center,Marshall Space Flight Center\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"NASA\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":5,"featured_image":{"id":54578,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/oa-4-launch-3g.jpg","title":"oa-4-launch-3g","alt":"Cygnus Launches Atop Atlas V","caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release\/52532"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/press-release"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release\/52532\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":370532,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release\/52532\/revisions\/370532"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/54578"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52532"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=52532"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=52532"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=52532"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=52532"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}