Breaking

USA's Docked Cygnus Spacecraft Successfully Maneuvers ISS in Important Reboosting Test - Gizmodo
Jun 28, 2022 56 secs
NASA is breathing a sigh of relief following a successful demonstration in which a docked Cygnus freighter was temporarily converted into a booster engine for the International Space Station.

The favorable test suggests NASA has the means to adjust the space station’s orbit should Russia decide to leave the orbital outpost, as Russia’s space chief has threatened to do.

The Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft managed to raise the International Space Station’s altitude by approximately 582 feet (161 meters) at apogee (an object’s greatest orbital distance to Earth) and 2,641 feet (805 meters) at perigee (nearest distance to Earth).

This demonstration of Cygnus as an ISS rebooster is likely a response to Dmitri Rogozin, head of Roscosmos, threatening to leave the space station altogether, possibly as early as 2025.

“This reboost of the ISS using Cygnus adds a critical capability to help maintain and support the space station,” Steve Krein, vice president of civil and commercial space and tactical space systems at Northrop Grumman, said in the company statement.

The limited reboost test complete, NASA and Northrop Grumman are now in the midst of ending this particular Cygnus mission.

RECENT NEWS

SUBSCRIBE

Get monthly updates and free resources.

CONNECT WITH US

© Copyright 2024 365NEWSX - All RIGHTS RESERVED