Cygnus cargo freighter ends mission at International Space Station – Spaceflight Now - Spaceflight Now
A Northrop Grumman Cygnus supply ship departed the International Space Station Saturday after a three-month stay, heading off on the final phase of its mission to deploy a U.S.Ground controllers commanded the arm to position the Cygnus spacecraft below the station, then sent the order to release the cargo ship at 11:01 a.m.
Thrusters on the Cygnus supply ship fired to propel the craft farther from the space station.
Within a half-hour, Cygnus was on a safe trajectory away from the station, allowing ground teams at Northrop Grumman in Virginia to begin an extended mission for the spacecraft.
The mission is Northrop Grumman’s 16th resupply flight to the International Space Station under contract to NASA.Astronauts inside the space station unpacked the cargo delivered by the Cygnus spacecraft, then replaced it with trash tagged for disposal.The Cygnus cargo ship’s extended mission will run through Dec.“The Cygnus system has evolved from being just a cargo delivery service to a high performing science platform,” said Steve Krein, vice president of civil and commercial space in Northrop Grumman’s tactical space system business unit.Cygnus cargo freighter ends mission at International Space Station