SpaceX is gearing up for an exciting milestone as it prepares to launch a Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft on its renowned Falcon 9 rocket for the very first time. The NG-20 resupply mission is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, January 30th at 12:07 p.m. EST (1707 GMT). This mission marks the twentieth cargo flight that Northrop Grumman has sent to the International Space Station (ISS), but it is the first time that their Cygnus cargo craft will be sent to the orbital lab atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
During a pre-flight teleconference on Friday, William Gerstenmaier, vice president of Build and Flight Reliability at SpaceX, revealed that modifications had to be made to the Falcon 9’s payload fairing. A hatch measuring 5 feet by 4 feet (1.5m by 1.2m) was added to the payload fairing, allowing ground crews to load additional cargo just before launch. This includes special treats like ice cream for the astronauts aboard the space station. Gerstenmaier explained that the addition of the hatch was a complex task and contributed to the decision to delay the launch by one day to January 30th. The area inside the hatch must be environmentally controlled to prevent any contamination on Cygnus’s docking hardware, which could affect its berthing at the ISS.
The latest Cygnus freighter will carry fresh foods, supplies, and a range of sophisticated science experiments for the astronauts currently aboard the space station. One notable experiment is the first robotic surgeon, called MIRA, which will be sent to the ISS. MIRA, developed by Virtual Incision, is a miniaturized robotic assisted surgery system that will be used to dissect simulated astronaut tissue. This groundbreaking technology has the potential to revolutionize surgical procedures in space.
Cyrus Dhalla, vice president and general manager of tactical space systems at Northrop Grumman, explained that Cygnus will remain docked at the International Space Station for approximately six months. During this time, it may be called upon to boost the space station back up to its optimal altitude. The ISS gradually falls towards Earth over time due to atmospheric drag, and Cygnus can help counteract this effect.
Once its time at the ISS is complete, Cygnus will depart carrying trash and other waste that will be disposed of through a fiery reentry into Earth’s atmosphere. This serves as another crucial function of the platform. Previous Cygnus cargo missions were launched using Northrop Grumman’s Antares rocket. However, the current version of the Antares rocket is being phased out due to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The supply chains for Antares, which relied on Ukrainian-built first stages and Russian rocket engines, have been disrupted. As a result, Antares 230 made its final flight in August 2023.
The upcoming launch of the Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket is a significant step forward in the partnership between the two companies. It demonstrates the versatility and reliability of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and opens up new possibilities for future collaborations. As we eagerly await the launch, we can anticipate the groundbreaking experiments and supplies that will be delivered to the astronauts aboard the International Space Station. This mission represents another remarkable achievement in humanity’s ongoing exploration of space.
