NASA’s Robotic Hand Successfully Captured Cygnus Spacecraft In Space

On 4th August, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket launched the NG-21 Cygnus spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS). The launch seemed to be successful, but technical issues delayed the spacecraft’s necessary manoeuvres. If the Cygnus cargo spacecraft gets to the ISS, NASA astronauts will catch it with a robotic hand.

Robotic Hand Catches Cygnus Spacecraft

Updated on 6th August

On 6 August, at 3:11 am ET, the Cygnus spacecraft successfully approached and was captured by the International Space Station (ISS) with the Canadarm2 robotic arm, NASA stated.

“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 message says.

Cygnus will stay docked at the space station until January, then will leave the orbiting laboratory. At that time, it will dispose of several thousand pounds of debris by re-entering Earth’s atmosphere, where it will safely burn up.

Cygnus Spacecraft’s Launch Details

A Falcon 9 rocket took off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 11:02 a.m. Eastern Time. About 15 minutes after liftoff, the Cygnus spacecraft detached from the Falcon’s upper stage in low Earth orbit. But then, Northrop Grumman‘s space truck deployed its solar panels, missing two burns of its own engines that would lift it into orbit around the International Space Station.

What Did NASA Say?

NASA and Northrop Grumman did not provide any updates for several hours following the spacecraft separation. Later, in a statement released nearly six hours after liftoff, NASA said Cygnus was at a safe altitude. 

Northrop Grumman engineers are working on a new plan to fire engines and adjust the flight path to help Cygnus arrive for capture by the station’s robotic arm on 6 August.

NASA added, “The team aims to achieve the spacecraft’s original capture time on the station, which is currently slated for 3:10 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 6.”

What Does Cygnus Spacecraft Carry?

Cygnus spacecraft is expected to deliver 3,857 kilograms of payload to the ISS, including scientific research equipment and supplies for the station’s crew.

Robotic Arm To Carry Cygnus

If everything goes according to the plan, NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick will capture the Cygnus spacecraft by the station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm around 3:10 a.m., with NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps serving as backup. Once captured, the spacecraft will be docked to the Earth-facing port of the Unity module.

Where To Watch It Live?

NASA will provide live coverage of the Cygnus spacecraft’s arrival beginning at 1:30 a.m. 6 August on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, X, Facebook, and the agency’s website.