The Northrop Grumman Cygnus cargo spacecraft was captured by the International Space Station's robotic arm.
Credit: NASA
Credit: NASA
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TechTranscript
00:00Here on your screen you can see on the left that is the space station's robotic arm that
00:05NASA astronaut Matthew Dominic is going to be controlling.
00:09He's going to push that into Cygnus and grapple onto it.
00:19NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps is assisting him, serving as his second set of eyes.
00:24You'll also hear her call down to the crew in mission control.
00:29The astronauts do have the go from ground teams here on Earth to proceed with capture.
00:59NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
01:29NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
01:59NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
02:30NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
02:50Houston, Station. This is Space Surround 2.
02:52Houston, we're in step 4.2 and we're waiting to capture for lighting conditions.
02:59Houston copies.
03:01Houston copies.
03:21The crew is standing by for better lighting conditions.
03:25We did just recently exit that orbital nighttime and are into that orbital daytime right now.
03:34This is a live view of Cygnus and the robotic arm on the left.
03:39The robotic arm has not started to move yet.
03:41Again, the crew is waiting for better lighting conditions.
03:55NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
04:00NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
04:05NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
04:25At the end of the robotic arm is the lee.
04:28That's the latching end effector, the hand of the arm.
04:31There are latches and snares that are going to grab onto the target.
04:36NASA astronaut Matthew Dominic is going to maneuver that arm so that it can grab onto the target.
04:42Houston, Station. We're ready with the lighting and we can complete step 4.2 on your go.
04:49Houston copies. Go for it.
04:55NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
05:25NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
05:30NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps on board the space station confirmed that they are good to proceed with capture.
05:59However, the robotic arm is not currently moving yet.
06:05You are seeing live views of that capture on your screen right now.
06:19And we have confirmed movement. The crew is pushing in the robotic arm to Cygnus.
06:33We do have a camera at the end of that lee or the latching end effector.
06:40You are seeing live views now as NASA astronaut Matthew Dominic pushes in the robotic arm to Cygnus.
06:52The circle towards the bottom is actually the grapple target.
06:57Dominic is going to be aiming for that horizontal bar just above it.
07:04The fixtures on the robotic arm are going to engage with that circular pinwheel shape that is directly below the horizontal bar.
07:26Two meters away.
07:45One meter.
08:14Two 11 a.m. Central time.
08:37Three 11 a.m. Eastern time.
08:40While the space station flew over the South Atlantic Ocean, Northrop Grumman's 21st Commercial Resupply Service mission was successfully captured at the hands of NASA astronaut Matthew Dominic.
09:04The Cygnus cargo spacecraft, as you see on your screen, is now securely attached to the space station's robotic arm.
09:18Next up is going to be the installation of the Cygnus spacecraft.
09:23That is actually going to be done by the ground team here in Mission Control Houston.
09:31For now, NASA astronauts Matthew Dominic and Jeanette Epps are relieved from their duties and will go on to their tasks for the day.
09:40We are going to take a brief break on our coverage and we will be back for that installation.
10:01NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
10:31NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
10:58Houston, Station on two. The Cygnus capture is complete.
11:03Go for Cygnus post-capture reconfiguration.
11:07You know, the space station brings a lot of visiting vehicles aboard and we make it seem regular, but there's nothing regular about making one space station connect to another.
11:16It's incredible every single time. Welcome aboard the space station, 6 Scopey.
11:23Houston copies all and concurs.
11:25This has been an incredible effort from both our Northrop Grumman and NASA teams and all the way from mission planning and preparation leading up to launch and especially over the past 48 hours, mission execution.
11:34Outstanding work today to you all and congrats on successfully capturing the 21st Cygnus and 50th visiting vehicle to the International Space Station.
11:41Why don't you all go celebrate with some ice cream.
11:46Did you say 50th?
11:47It's incredible.
11:48What an incredible group of teams from around the planet make this happen every single time.
11:51Thank you guys.
11:55You heard wonderful congratulatory remarks.
12:24Northrop Grumman's Cygnus spacecraft supporting the 21st Northrop Grumman's 21st commercial resupply service mission to the International Space Station has been successfully grappled at the hands of NASA astronaut Matthew Dominic with NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps serving as his backup.
12:442.11 a.m. Central time, 3.11 a.m. Eastern time is our official time of capture.