Commercial Cargo Operations for the ISS · Commercial Cargo Operations for the ISS Frank L....
Transcript of Commercial Cargo Operations for the ISS · Commercial Cargo Operations for the ISS Frank L....
Commercial Cargo Operations for the ISS
Frank L. Culbertson
Executive Vice President
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Low Earth Orbit Cargo Operations
• Under the joint NASA / Orbital
Commercial Orbital Transportation
Services (COTS) program, Orbital has
developed the “Cygnus” Advanced
Maneuvering Space Vehicle, Which is
Designed to Meet the Stringent Safety
Requirements for International Space
Station (ISS) Operations.
• Developed through Space Act
Agreement with NASA’s Commercial
Crew and Cargo Program
• The Cygnus Spacecraft Will Provide
Cargo Resupply to the ISS Program under
the Cargo Resupply Services Contract
• 8 CRS Flights from 2014 to 2016
Leveraging Commercial Cargo to Lower Launch Costs
The Cygnus vehicle is comprised of two major
elements
Service Module (SM)
Heritage: Orbital GEO and LEO missions
Power Generation: 2 Fixed Wing Solar Arrays,
Power Output: 3.5 kW (sun-pointed)
Propellant: Dual-mode
Compatible with Antares
Pressurized Cargo Module (PCM)
Heritage: Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (ISS);
ATV
Total Cargo Mass: 2,000 kg, 2700 kg
Pressurized Volume: 18.7 m3, 27 m3
Berthing at ISS: Node 2 Common Berthing
Mechanism
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+X
+Y
150.1”
200.2“
Ø103.3”
120.9”
© 2014 Orbital Sciences Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Current Cygnus Configurations Provide
Foundation to Future Applications
Cygnus is an Advanced Maneuvering
Space Vehicle, Designed and Certified to
Meet the Stringent Safety Requirements for
ISS Operations
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Standard
Configuration
Enhanced
Configuration
Orbital Proprietary Information
Standard Configuration
SM Mass = 1700 Kg
PCM Dry Mass = 1677 Kg
Payload Mass = 2000 Kg
Internal Volume = 18.9 m3
PCM Diameter = 3.1 m
PCM Length = 3.9 m
Enhanced Configuration
SM Mass = 1700 Kg
PCM Dry Mass = 1995 Kg
Payload Mass = 2700 Kg
Internal Volume = 26.2 m3
PCM Diameter = 3.1 m
PCM Length = 5.1 m
Service Module (SM)
• Heritage: STAR Bus, LEO Star
• Provides all vehicle utility services
• Multi-string fault-tolerant computer system
• Manages on-orbit maneuvering and autonomous
rendezvous to the ISS
• 3500 W solar array power generation and
significant battery capability (20,000 W-hrs)
• N2H4/NTO dual-mode propulsion system used
in Orbital communications satellites
• 32 Thrusters in 3 Fully 6-DOF Strings
• Can be adapted for use in beyond LEO missions
and other payloads
Pressurized Cargo Module (PCM) • Supports cargo requiring a pressurized
environment
• Designed and built by Thales Alenia Space with
direct heritage to ISS modules
Antares Wallops Launch Site and Operations Collaboration between NASA, Wallops, and MARS
Horizontal Integration for Efficient Processing
Transporter/Erector/Launcher
System Designed for Safe, Rapid
Transfer of LV to Pad
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ROLL OUT TO PAD Friday
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Antares Launch
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● Cygnus Mission Control is located in the
Orbital Mission Control Complex in
Dulles, Virginia
● After being launched into low-Earth orbit
by Antares, the Cygnus spacecraft will
transport it’s cargo to the ISS.
● After the cargo delivery is complete,
Cygnus is loaded with disposal material
and steered to a safe destructive reentry. 11
Cygnus on Approach
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Capturing Visiting
Spacecraft
Cygnus Grappled!
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Cygnus Hatch Open
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NLP Vaccine-21
Activation
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Spheres Experiment
Ants in Space
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Fresh Food!
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Fresh Fruit Delivery
Cygnus System Facilitates Exploration Goals
Affordability - Evolutionary approach with utilization of existing space qualified
systems and cargo missions to ISS, provides lower cost under tightening budget
constraints
Early Schedule - Utilization of existing capability provides opportunity for
near-term mission support. Potential to “piggy-back” on currently planned CRS
missions (8 missions through 2016)
Maturity / Reliability - Cygnus heritage and redundancy provides reliability
Technology Advancement - Cygnus utilization provides new technology risk
reduction in flight environments
Flexibility - Cygnus system elements are adaptable to evolving mission needs, goals
and requirements
Partnership - Involvement of Cygnus concepts in NASA Exploration assessments
promotes commercial / NASA / international partnership
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Cygnus Provides an Affordable and Near-
Term Capability To Support NASA Goals
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Graphic Credit – Lockheed Martin
Cygnus Provides an Affordable and Near-
Term Capability To Support NASA Goals
23 Graphic Credit – Lockheed Martin