Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus NG-19 spacecraft has completed its mission at the International Space Station (ISS) and is now on its way back to Earth. The spacecraft, which was launched as part of the 19th commercial resupply mission by Northrop Grumman, departed from the ISS after spending a total of 4.5 months orbiting the Earth.
On the day of its departure, the Cygnus spacecraft was released by the Canadarm2 robotic arm over the north Atlantic ocean. During its time at the ISS, Cygnus delivered an impressive 8,200 pounds of hardware, supplies, science experiments, and other cargo.
Named after NASA astronaut Laurel Clark, who tragically lost her life in the Columbia space shuttle disaster in 2003, the NG-19 spacecraft is now well on its way back to Earth. However, before its planned re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere in early 2024, the spacecraft will perform undisclosed “secondary payload operations.”
Once these operations are completed, Cygnus will be commanded to plunge into Earth’s atmosphere, effectively burning up any trash or waste on board. This method of disposal helps to ensure that no waste is left behind in space and is a crucial step towards maintaining a clean and sustainable environment for future space missions.
Additionally, Cygnus has been given the go-ahead to conduct a new SAFFIRE fire experiment in the coming weeks. This experiment aims to study how fire behaves in microgravity and is the sixth and final experiment in the series. The previous SAFFIRE experiments have already yielded valuable results, testing flammability at different oxygen levels and showcasing fire detection and monitoring capabilities in space.
Overall, the departure of the Cygnus NG-19 spacecraft marks another successful mission for Northrop Grumman. As the spacecraft journeys back to Earth, it leaves behind a legacy of scientific advancements and crucial supplies delivered to the ISS, as well as important research on fire behavior in microgravity.
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