Private Cygnus Cargo Ship Captured By Space Station Robotic Arm
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
02:29Houston 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.
03:21The 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.
04:11At the end of the robotic arm is the lea, that'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 on 2, we're ready with the lighting and we can complete step 4.2 on your go.
04:49Houston copies, go for it.
05:06NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
05:36NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps on board the space station confirmed that they are good to proceed with capture.
05:58However, the robotic arm is not currently moving yet.
06:03You are seeing live views of that capture on your screen right now.
06:18And 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 lea 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.
06:57Astronaut Dominic 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.
07:12Two meters away.
07:42One meter.
08:13There it is.
08:17Two 11 a.m. central time, three 11 a.m. eastern time, while the space station flew over the South Atlantic Ocean,
08:44Northrop 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.
09:13Next 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.
09:29For now, NASA astronauts Matthew Dominic and Jeanette Epps are relieved from their duties.
09:37We'll 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.
10:10NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
10:40NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
10:57Houston, station on cue.
11:00Cygnus capture complete.
11:03Go for Cygnus post-capture reconfiguration.
11:07The space station brings a lot of visiting vehicles aboard and we make it seem regular,
11:12but there's nothing regular about making one space station connect to another.
11:15It's incredible every single time.
11:17Welcome 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
11:28and all the way from mission planning and preparation leading up to launch
11:31and especially over the past 48 hours, mission execution.
11:34Outstanding work today to you all.
11:36Congrats on successfully capturing the 21st Cygnus and 50th visiting vehicle
11:39to 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.
12:06You heard wonderful congratulatory remarks.
12:27Northrop Grumman's Cygnus spacecraft supporting the 21st,
12:32Northrop Grumman's 21st Commercial Resupply Service mission
12:35to the International Space Station has been successfully grappled
12:39at the hands of NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick
12:42with NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps serving as his backup.
12:462.11 a.m. Central Time, 3.11 a.m. Eastern Time is our official time of capture.