Cygnus Supply Craft. Sporting New Solar Array

Cygnus's newest improvements are effective, efficient and by many descriptions - adorable.

When the S.S. Deke Slayton II launched in December, it was the first mission of the
newly-upgraded Cygnus spacecraft.

The upgrades included an expanded cargo hold and reworked service module, but most striking of all is the new solar panels. Like the rectangular bars on every other spacecraft (including older-model Cygnus spacecraft), the Cygnus now sports a pair of round Ultraflex solar arrays.

The design is not form alone however. The round fan-fold allows for higher performance at a lower mass than typical arrays. The arrays also fold up smaller than traditional arrays, reducing the stowage volume  when launching. 

Check out the Gizmodo article HERE

Orbital Sciences Corp.Has First Successful ISS Delivery

 

Orbital Sciences Corp. saw a successful capture of its Cygnus supply spacecraft by the ISS' robotic arm.   Cygnus was attached Cygnus to the space station's Harmony where its 2700 pounds of supplies, spare parts and scientific equipment will be off-loaded and then in February, the craft will be detached for a destructive reentry.

NASA now has two resupply companies with Orbital Sciences successful capture.  The first being Space Exploration Technologies  or SpaceX.  

Future missions for both of the partners will be manned launches to the ISS, possibly within the next three years. 

Here is the NASA article link HERE

Orbital Sciences' Cygnus Captured by ISS

 

Orbital Sciences' Cygnus spacecraft has successfully docked with the International Space Station as of  Sunday September 29 at around 7 a.m. EDT.. Cygnus was launched from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Va., on Sept. 18, and it was grabbed by the space station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm controlled by European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano, with NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg acting as his backup.

Orbital signed a $1.8 billion contract with NASA that will run through 2016. During that time, Orbital  will conduct eight resupply missions to the ISS, sending 44,093 pounds of net cargo.   NASA is also aiming at its commercial partners to deliver personnel as well, drastically reducing operational costs.

This now doubles the commercial delivery systems being used on the ISS.  Elton Musk's Space X

full article at International Business Times