The Progress 86 cargo craft is pictured approaching the space station’s Poisk module on Dec. 3, 2023.
NASA’s live launch coverage is underway on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website. Learn how to stream NASA+ through a variety of platforms including social media.
The unpiloted Progress 89 spacecraft is scheduled to launch at 11:20 p.m. EDT Wednesday, Aug. 14 (8:20 a.m. Baikonur time, Thursday, Aug. 15), on a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Roscosmos spacecraft will liftoff carrying about three tons of food, fuel, and supplies for the Expedition 71 crew aboard the International Space Station.
After a two-day in-orbit journey to the station, the spacecraft will automatically dock to the aft port of the orbiting laboratory’s Zvezda Service module at 1:56 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 17. NASA’s coverage of rendezvous and docking will begin at 1 a.m. on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website.
Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft is pictured attached to the Earth-facing port of the space station’s Unity module on Aug. 6, 2024. Credit: NASA TV
Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft installation on the International Space Station is complete at 5:33 a.m. EDT.
The spacecraft carried 8,200 pounds of scientific investigations and cargo to the orbiting laboratory for Northrop Grumman’s 21st commercial resupply mission for NASA.
The mission launched at 11:02 a.m. Aug. 4 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Cygnus will remain at the space station until January when it departs the orbiting laboratory at which point it will dispose of several thousand pounds of debris through its re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere where it will harmlessly burn up.
Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft is pictured attached to the Canadarm2 robotic arm, moments after NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick maneuvered the robotic arm to capture the spacecraft ahead of installation to the Earth-facing port of the Unity module. Credit: NASA TV
NASA’s coverage is underway for the installation of Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft to the International Space Station on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, X, Facebook, and the agency’s website.
At 3:11 a.m. EDT, NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick, with NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps acting as backup, captured Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft using the International Space Station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm as the station was flying about 260 miles over the South Atlantic Ocean.
The spacecraft is carrying 8,200 pounds of scientific investigations and cargo to the orbiting laboratory for Northrop Grumman’s 21st commercial resupply mission for NASA.
The mission launched at 11:02 a.m. Aug. 4 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Cygnus will remain at the space station until January when it departs the orbiting laboratory at which point it will dispose of several thousand pounds of debris through its re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere where it will harmlessly burn up.
Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft is pictured attached to the Canadarm2 robotic arm moments after NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick maneuvered the robotic arm to capture the spacecraft ahead of installation to the Earth-facing port of the Unity module. Credit: NASA TV
At 3:11 a.m. EDT, NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick, with NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps as backup, captured Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft using the International Space Station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm as the station was flying about 260 miles over the South Atlantic Ocean.
Mission control in Houston will use the Canadarm2 robotic arm to position Cygnus to its installation orientation and then will guide it in for installation on the station’s Unity module Earth-facing port.
NASA will provide coverage of the spacecraft’s installation beginning at 4:30 a.m. on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, X, Facebook, and the agency’s website.
NASA’s Northrop Grumman 21st commercial resupply mission launched at 11:02 a.m. Aug. 4 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida carrying 8,200 pounds of scientific investigations and cargo to the orbiting laboratory.
The Northrop Grumman Cygnus space freighter approaches the International Space Station as both spacecraft orbited 272 miles above the southern Indian Ocean.
NASA’s coverage is underway for the capture of Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft. At approximately 3:10 a.m. EDT, NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick will capture Cygnus using the International Space Station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm, and NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps is backup. After capture, the spacecraft will be installed on the Unity module’s Earth-facing port.
The spacecraft is carrying 8,200 pounds of scientific investigations and cargo to the orbiting laboratory for Northrop Grumman’s 21st commercial resupply mission for NASA.
The mission launched at 11:02 a.m. Aug. 4 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
NASA will provide coverage of the spacecraft’s installation beginning at 4:30 a.m. on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, X, Facebook, and the agency’s website.
Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus space freighter is pictured moments after release from the Canadarm2 robotic arm, ending its five-and-a-half month stay at the International Space Station. Credit: NASA TV
At 7:01 a.m. EDT, the S.S. Patricia “Patty” Hilliard Robertson Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft was released from the Canadarm2 robotic arm which earlier detached Cygnus from the Earth-facing port of the International Space Station’s Unity module. At the time of release, the station was flying about 260 miles over the South Atlantic Ocean.
The Cygnus spacecraft successfully departed the space station more than five and a half months after arriving at the microgravity laboratory to deliver about 8,200 pounds of supplies, scientific investigations, commercial products, hardware, and other cargo for NASA.
Up next, the Kentucky Re-entry Probe Experiment-2 (KREPE-2), stowed inside Cygnus, will take measurements to demonstrate a thermal protection system for spacecraft and their contents during re-entry in Earth’s atmosphere, which can be difficult to replicate in ground simulations.
Following a deorbit engine firing on Saturday, July 13, Cygnus will begin a planned destructive re-entry, in which the spacecraft – filled with trash packed by the station crew – will safely burn up in Earth’s atmosphere.
Cygnus arrived at the space station Feb. 1, following a launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. It was the company’s 20th commercial resupply services mission to the space station for NASA. The spacecraft is named the S.S. Patricia “Patty” Hilliard Robertson in honor of the former NASA astronaut.
Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus cargo craft is pictured moments away from being captured by the Canadarm2 robotic arm.
Live coverage of the departure of the S.S. Patricia “Patty” Hilliard Robertson Northrop Grumman’s uncrewed Cygnus cargo spacecraft from the International Space Station is underway on NASA+, NASA Television, the agency’s website, and the NASA app, with its release from the robotic arm scheduled for 7 a.m. EDT. Coverage will conclude following departure from station.
Flight controllers on the ground sent commands earlier Friday morning for the space station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm to detach Cygnus from the Unity module’s Earth-facing port, and then maneuver the spacecraft into position for its release. NASA astronaut Tracy Dyson will monitor Cygnus’ systems during its departure from the space station.
After departure, the Kentucky Re-entry Probe Experiment-2 (KREPE-2), stowed inside Cygnus, will take measurements to demonstrate a thermal protection system for spacecraft and their contents during re-entry in Earth’s atmosphere, which can be difficult to replicate in ground simulations.
After a deorbit engine firing on Saturday, July 13, Cygnus will begin a planned destructive re-entry, in which the spacecraft – filled with trash packed by the station crew – will safely burn up in Earth’s atmosphere.
Cygnus arrived at the space station Feb. 1, following a launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. It was the company’s 20th commercial resupply services mission to the space station for NASA. The spacecraft is named the S.S. Patricia “Patty” Hilliard Robertson in honor of the former NASA astronaut.
Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus space freighter, attached to the Unity module, is pictured firing its single engine boosting the International Space Station’s orbital altitude. This long-duration photograph also shows an atmospheric glow hovering above Earth’s horizon.
A full day of robotics and cargo ops kept the Expedition 71 and Boeing Crew Flight Test crews busy on Monday as the nine orbital residents kick off a week of maintenance and science aboard the International Space Station. The crew also scheduled in some time for human health research and physical science activities.
NASA astronauts Tracy C. Dyson, Jeanette Epps, Matthew Dominick, and Mike Barratt all completed a round of robotics training throughout the day ahead of the departure of Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus space freighter. The quartet practiced capturing a cargo craft and trained to operate the Canadarm2 robotic arm.
Cygnus, which was captured by the robotic arm on Feb. 1, will be released by robotics controllers later this month for disposal over the South Pacific Ocean, ending its five-and-a-half-month mission at the orbital lab. Along with training, Dominick and Epps spent part of the day loading trash and discarded gear inside the spacecraft.
Epps also processed and separated Hicari samples in the Kibo Laboratory for future return to Earth. Hicari, an experiment led by JAXA (Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency), investigates high-quality crystal growth of semiconductors. Later on, she inventoried emergency equipment, including the fire extinguisher, masks, and air supply tanks.
Meanwhile, research to assess psychological and physiological responses to microgravity was underway in the Destiny module. Dyson collected biological samples for the Standard Measures investigation, then stowed them in MELFI, the orbital lab’s ultra-cold freezer, for future analysis.
Starliner Commander Butch Wilmore and Pilot Suni Williams worked together to review use procedures for the Fluid Systems Servicer, which drains, purges, and circulates fluids on systems aboard the space station. Wilmore then refilled coolant loops in the water pump assembly located in the Columbus module.
Cargo ops, robotics activities, and health research also occupied the three cosmonauts’ schedules on Monday. In the morning, Flight Engineer Alexander Grebenkin donned a device that captures blood pressure measurements to study how the cardiovascular system adapts to microgravity. He then practiced his piloting techniques during a Pilot-T session. Current station Commander Oleg Kononenko loaded trash and discarded gear inside Progress 87, which is slated to undock from the station in August. He later joined by Flight Engineer Nikolai Chub to inspect and photograph windowpanes to assess their condition for future maintenance.
While soaring 250 miles above our home planet, the International Space Station passes into orbital nighttime roughly every 45 minutes. During these night periods, crew members can observe events in Earth’s atmosphere that are otherwise difficult to capture during daylight. In the morning, NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps entered the cupola to set up equipment for the Thor-Davis investigation. She then used the high-speed Davis Camera to observe and capture thunderstorms in Earth’s upper atmosphere. The camera, specially designed to track electrical activity at up to 100,000 frames per second, could be used during future missions to record processes in severe electrical storms.
In the Japanese Experiment Module, NASA astronaut Tracy C. Dyson spent most of the morning relocating the Internal Ball Camera before reactivating the hardware at its new docking station. Afterward, she audited emergency medical kits and hardware.
NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick spent most of the day in the Tranquility module to remove and replace a ventilation fan, while his crewmate, Mike Barratt, worked in the Columbus module to clear out hardware and stowage in preparation for the future installation of new exercise equipment.
Starliner Commander Butch Wilmore and Pilot Suni Williams teamed up on Wednesday to continue work on the wastewater processing system, removing and replacing a failed pressure control pump motor.
In the Roscosmos segment, Commander Oleg Kononenko and Flight Engineer Nikolai Chub began the day prepping and donning a watch that will record their movement, physical activity, and sleep over the next 36 hours. The duo then prepped for some routine flight simulation training while their crewmate, Alexander Grebenkin, observed Earth’s nighttime atmosphere in near-ultraviolet.
NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps smiles for a portrait aboard the International Space Station’s Columbus laboratory module.
Hearing assessments, eye exams, and cargo ops topped Tuesday’s schedule aboard the International Space Station. The Expedition 71 and Boeing Crew Flight Test crews also scheduled in some time to connect with students back on Earth and prepare for upcoming mission activities.
As part of regularly scheduled exams in low Earth orbit, NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Mike Barratt,Jeanette Epps, and Tracy C. Dyson all completed hearing assessments throughout the day. Epps prepped for upcoming Thor-Davis activities—an investigation that observes thunderstorms in Earth’s upper atmosphere—and reconfigured the EarthKam for future operations.
Dominick connected with students from St. Luke’s College in Buenos Aires, Argentina, during an Amateur Radio call, giving them an opportunity to ask questions about living and working in microgravity as the space station orbited overhead.
Barratt and Dyson teamed up in the afternoon to deconfigure spacesuit components after a water leak in Dyson’s service and cooling umbilical unit forced an early end to a spacewalk on Monday, June 24. The next spacewalk outside of the orbiting laboratory, with Dyson and Barratt, is scheduled for July 29.
Later in the evening, Barratt received an eye exam, guided by Epps, to help researchers better understand how microgravity affects vision. Meanwhile, Dyson was joined by Crew Flight Test Commander Butch Wilmore to load trash and discarded gear inside Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft. Cygnus is scheduled to be released from the Unity module later this month for disposal over the South Pacific Ocean, ending its five-and-a-half month stay at the orbiting lab.
Crew Flight Test Pilot Suni Williams spent a majority of the day on Starliner operations then assessed the air flow of the pump filter attached to the Advanced Plant Habitat. At the end of the day, Williams was joined by all eight of her crewmates for a conference with ground teams.
All three cosmonauts in microgravity donned acoustic monitors throughout the day to capture sound measurements around the station. In the Zvezda Service Module, Flight Engineer Nikolai Chub tested a 3D printer to assess its ability to manufacture space hardware, then later inspected and photographed panels and cable routes of a Roscosmos physics experiment that examines neutron radiation.
Flight Engineer Alexander Grebenkin continued hose replacement work on the water processing system, then studied the glow of Earth’s nighttime atmosphere in near-ultraviolet. Meanwhile, Commander Oleg Kononenko began loading trash and discarded gear inside Progress 87, which is slated to undock from the orbiting laboratory in August.
