Cygnus Orb-1 is the first ISS commercial resupply services vehicle launched by Orbital Sciences Corporation under the NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) agreement. The Cygnus pressurized cargo vessel is based the on the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) carried as Shuttle cargo, and the avionics have been developed for other satellites.
Cygnus carries "Flock 1", a constellation of 28 small Earth imaging satellites by the name of "Dove". Each is a 3U Cubesat. Cygnus is also carrying four other cubesats, SkyCube (1U), ArduSat-2 (2U), LithuanicaSat (1U), LitSat (1U), and UAPSat (1U). All are for later release from ISS.
Launch was postponed from 2013 December 19 to allow NASA initially to concentrate on efforts to fix a coolant problem aboard the ISS, then compounded by minor issues related to Cygnus/Antares launch preparations. Further delayed from January 8 due to solar radiation conditions and potential risk to the Antares launch vehicle.
After separation from the Antares booster, Cygnus deployed its solar arrays and undergo initial check-out. The spacecraft conducted a series of thruster burns to raise its orbit to bring it within 4 km of the ISS, prior to receiving authorization to autonomously rendezvous with the station. When the vehicle approached to within 12 meters, the astronauts uses the station's robotic arm to grapple Cygnus and berth it to the Harmony node of the station. Cygnus was planned to remain berthed at the ISS for 42 days, during which time the station crew will load Cygnus with materials for disposal. At the end of the mission, Cygnus departed the station and reentered the Earth's atmosphere.
Alternate Names
Orb-1
Facts in Brief
Launch Date: 2014-01-09
Launch Vehicle: Antares
Launch Site: Wallops Island, United States
Mass: 1261.0 kg