NASA and Northrop Grumman are reviewing a modified engine burn plan after two premature shutdowns occurred on the Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft during orbital manoeuvres en route to the International Space Station.
The unmanned spacecraft was launched on September 14 at 6:11 p.m. from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The actual arrival of the ship to reach the orbital laboratory was on September 17, but it got delayed. NASA is planning a new arrival date and time under review.
Stable Systems and New Burn Plan
Despite the anomaly, NASA confirmed that all remaining systems on the spacecraft remain stable. A new burn schedule is being developed by mission controllers to allow a safe rendezvous.
Astronaut Jonny Kim will capture Cygnus using the station’s robot arm, or Canadarm2, with support from his colleague Zena Cardman. The ship carries roughly 11,000 pounds of scientific experiments, hardware and supplies to support continued research and crew needs.
Role of Commercial Cargo Flights
Resupply flights again illustrate how commercial cargo carriers contribute an irreplaceable function to supporting long-duration presence in orbit. Engineers continue to scrutinise engine operating data as they coordinate plans for emergencies to safeguard mission objectives.
Despite the delay deferring Cygnus’s arrival, NASA and Northrop Grumman again affirm flexibility in mission planning such that both crew protection and delivery of vital cargo are never jeopardised.
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