View source for Engineering:Cygnus CRS OA-9E

{{Infobox spaceflight
| name                  = Cygnus CRS OA-9E
| image                 = ISS-55 Cygnus OA-9E approaching the ISS (6) (cropped).jpg
| image_size            = 300px
| image_caption         = Cygnus OA-9E grappled by Canadarm2
| insignia              = Orbital Sciences CRS Flight 9E Patch.png

| mission_type          = [[Astronomy:International Space Station|ISS]] resupply
| operator              = [[Organization:NASA|NASA]]
| COSPAR_ID             = 2018-046A
| SATCAT                = 43474
| mission_duration      = Final: {{time interval|21 May 2018 08:44:06|30 July 2018 09:17|show=dhm|sep=,}}

| spacecraft            = S.S. ''J.R. Thompson''
| spacecraft_type       = [[Engineering:Cygnus (spacecraft)|Enhanced Cygnus]]<ref name=nsf-20120222 /><ref name=orbatkpr-20150812a />
| manufacturer          = Orbital ATK<br/>[[Company:Thales Alenia Space|Thales Alenia Space]]
| launch_mass           = {{convert|13608|lb|kg|0|order=flip|abbr=on}}<ref name="atk-factsheet">{{cite web |url=https://www.orbitalatk.com/news-room/feature-stories/OA9-Mission-Page/Documents/OA-9_FactSheet.pdf |title=Cygnus OA-9 Mission: Fact Sheet |publisher=Orbital ATK |date=2018 |accessdate=23 May 2018 |id=FS006_18}}</ref>

| launch_date           = {{start-date|21 May 2018, 08:44:06}}&nbsp;[[UTC]]<ref name="sfn20180521">{{cite news |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/05/21/antares-rocket-launch-kicks-off-space-stations-next-commercial-cargo-delivery/ |title=Antares rocket launch kicks off space station's next commercial cargo delivery |work=Spaceflight Now |first=Stephen |last=Clark |date=21 May 2018 |accessdate=23 May 2018}}</ref>
| launch_rocket         = [[Engineering:Antares (rocket)#Antares 200|Antares 230]]<ref name=orbatkpr-20150812a /><ref name=nsf-20150814 /><ref name=sn-20150817 />
| launch_site           = MARS LP-0A
| launch_contractor     = Orbital ATK

| disposal_type         = Deorbited
| decay_date            = {{end-date|30 July 2018, 09:17}}&nbsp;UTC<ref name="ng20180630">{{cite press release |url=https://news.northropgrumman.com/news/releases/northrop-grummans-cygnus-spacecraft-successfully-concludes-ninth-cargo-supply-mission-to-the-international-space-station |title=Northrop Grumman's Cygnus Spacecraft Successfully Concludes Ninth Cargo Supply Mission to the International Space Station |publisher=Northrop Grumman |first=Vicki |last=Cox |date=30 July 2018 |accessdate=6 August 2018}}</ref>

| orbit_epoch           = Planned
| orbit_reference       = [[Astronomy:Geocentric orbit|Geocentric]]
| orbit_regime          = [[Astronomy:Low Earth orbit|Low Earth]]
| orbit_periapsis       = 
| orbit_apoapsis        = 
| orbit_inclination     = 51.6&nbsp;degrees
| orbit_period          = 
| apsis                 = gee

| docking               = 
 {{Infobox spaceflight/Dock
   | docking_target     = [[Astronomy:International Space Station|ISS]]
   | docking_type       = berth
   | docking_port       = ''Unity'' nadir
   | capture_date       = 24 May 2018, 09:26&nbsp;UTC<ref name="spinside20180524">{{cite news |url=http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/missions/iss/oa-9-cygnus-cargo-ship-arrives-at-iss/ |title=OA-9 Cygnus Cargo Ship Arrives at ISS |work=Spaceflight Insider |first=Derek |last=Richardson |date=24 May 2018 |accessdate=25 May 2018}}</ref>
   | docking_date       = 24 May 2018, 12:13&nbsp;UTC<ref name="spinside20180524" />
   | undocking_date     = 15 July 2018, 10:20&nbsp;UTC
   | release_date       = 15 July 2018, 12:37&nbsp;UTC<ref name="sfin20180715">{{cite news |url=http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/missions/iss/northrop-grummans-oa-9-cygnus-leaves-international-space-station/ |title=Northrop Grumman's OA-9 Cygnus leaves International Space Station |work=Spaceflight Insider |first=Derek |last=Richardson |date=15 July 2018 |accessdate=6 August 2018}}</ref>
   | time_docked        = {{time interval|24 May 2018 09:26|15 July 2018 10:20|show=dhm|sep=,}}
 }}

| cargo_mass            = {{convert|7386|lb|kg|0|order=flip|abbr=on}}<ref name="oatk9-overview" />
| cargo_mass_press      = {{convert|7205|lb|kg|0|order=flip|abbr=on}}<ref name="oatk9-overview" />
| cargo_mass_unpress    = {{convert|181|lb|kg|0|order=flip|abbr=on}}<ref name="oatk9-overview" />

| programme             = [[Astronomy:Commercial Resupply Services|Commercial Resupply Services]]
| previous_mission      = [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-14|SpaceX CRS-14]]
| next_mission          = [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-15|SpaceX CRS-15]]

| programme2            = [[Engineering:Cygnus (spacecraft)#Missions|Cygnus flights]]
| previous_mission2     = [[Engineering:Cygnus CRS OA-8E|Cygnus CRS OA-8E]]
| next_mission2         = [[Engineering:Cygnus NG-10|Cygnus NG-10]]
}}

'''Cygnus CRS OA-9E''', also known as '''Orbital ATK OA-9E''' and '''Northrop Grumman OA-9E''', was the tenth flight of the Orbital ATK uncrewed resupply spacecraft [[Engineering:Cygnus (spacecraft)|Cygnus]] and its ninth flight to the [[Astronomy:International Space Station|International Space Station]] under the [[Astronomy:Commercial Resupply Services|Commercial Resupply Services]] contract with [[Organization:NASA|NASA]].<ref name=sfn-launchtracker /><ref name=seds-issschedule />  The mission launched on May 21st, 2018 at 4:44 AM. Orbital and NASA jointly developed a new space transportation system to provide commercial cargo resupply services to the International Space Station (ISS). Under the [[Astronomy:Commercial Orbital Transportation Services|Commercial Orbital Transportation Services]] (COTS) program, then [[Company:Orbital Sciences Corporation|Orbital Sciences]] designed and built [[Engineering:Antares (rocket)|Antares]], a medium-class launch vehicle; [[Engineering:Cygnus (spacecraft)|Cygnus]], an advanced maneuvering spacecraft, and a Pressurized Cargo Module which is provided by Orbital's industrial partner [[Company:Thales Alenia Space|Thales Alenia Space]].<ref name=orbatkbr-fs00608oa3891 />

==History==
[[File:Orbital ATK CRS-9 Launch (NHQ201805210003).jpg|thumb|left|Launch of Antares carrying Cygnus OA-9E]]

The COTS demonstration mission was successfully conducted in September 2013, and Orbital commenced operational ISS cargo missions under the Commercial Resupply Service (CRS) program with two missions in 2014. Regrettably, the third operational mission, [[Engineering:Cygnus CRS Orb-3|Orb CRS-3]], resulted was not successful due to spectacular [[Engineering:Antares (rocket)|Antares]] failure during launch. The company decided to discontinue the Antares 100 series and accelerate the introduction of a new propulsion. The Antares system will be upgraded with newly built RD-181 first-stage engines to provide greater payload performance and increased reliability.<ref name=nsf-20150814 />

In the meantime, the company had contracted with United Launch Alliance for an [[Engineering:Atlas V|Atlas V]] launch of [[Engineering:Cygnus CRS OA-4|CRS OA-4]] in late 2015 from Cape Canaveral, FL, with a second Atlas V Cygnus launch in 2016.<ref name=nsf-20150814 /><ref name=sn-20150817 />  The company had planned Cygnus missions for the first ([[Engineering:Cygnus CRS OA-5|CRS OA-5]]), second ([[Engineering:Cygnus CRS OA-6|CRS OA-6]]) and fourth quarters ([[Engineering:Cygnus CRS OA-7|CRS OA-7]]) of 2016. Two of which flew on the new [[Engineering:Antares (rocket)#Antares 200|Antares 230]] and one on the aforementioned second Atlas V. These three missions enabled Orbital ATK to cover their initial CRS contracted payload obligation.<ref name=sn-20150817 /><ref name=sn-20150820 /> This particular mission, known as OA-9E, is part of an extension program that will enable NASA to cover the ISS resupply needs until the [[Astronomy:Commercial Resupply Services#Commercial Resupply Services 2|Commercial Resupply Services 2]] contract enters in effect, and thus the E indicates that it actually is an extension above the originally contracted payload transport.<ref name=sn-20150820 />

Production and integration of Cygnus spacecraft is performed in Dulles, Virginia. The Cygnus service module is mated with the pressurized cargo module at the launch site, and mission operations are conducted from control centers in Dulles and Houston.<ref name=orbatkbr-fs00608oa3891 />

==Spacecraft==
{{main|Engineering:Cygnus (spacecraft)}}
This is the ninth of ten flights by Orbital ATK under the [[Astronomy:Commercial Resupply Services|Commercial Resupply Services]] contract with [[Organization:NASA|NASA]], and it is considered an extension over the originally contracted flights. This is the sixth flight of the Enhanced sized Cygnus PCM.<ref name=sn-20150817 />  The mission launched on 21 May 2018.<ref name=sfn-launchtracker2015 /><ref name=nasaheoc-scimemi201507 />

In an Orbital ATK tradition, this Cygnus spacecraft was named the S.S. ''J.R. Thompson'' after the former president and chief executive officer at Orbital Sciences Corp. who died in 2017. Thompson served in multiple management positions at Orbital, overseeing development of the Antares rocket and other vehicles in the company's launcher family.<ref name="sfnow20180518">{{cite news |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/05/18/antares-rocket-rolls-to-virginia-launch-pad-liftoff-delayed-to-monday/ |title=Antares rocket rolls to Virginia launch pad, liftoff delayed to Monday |work=Spaceflight Now |first=Stephen |last=Clark |date=18 May 2018 |accessdate=21 May 2018}}</ref>

==Manifest==
NASA contracted for the CRS OA-9E mission from Orbital ATK and therefore determined the primary payload, date/time of launch, and [[Astronomy:Orbital elements|orbital parameters]] for the Cygnus [[Engineering:Space capsule|space capsule]]. CRS OA-9E carried a total of {{convert|7386|lb|kg|0|order=flip|abbr=on}} of material into orbit. This includes {{convert|7205|lb|kg|0|order=flip|abbr=on}} of pressurised cargo with packaging bound for the International Space Station, and {{convert|181|lb|kg|0|order=flip|abbr=on}} of unpressurised cargo. The unpressurised cargo consists of a [[Company:NanoRacks|NanoRacks]] deployer and six CubeSats which will be released after Cygnus unberths from the ISS.

The following is a breakdown of cargo bound for the ISS:<ref name="oatk9-overview">{{cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/orbital_atk_crs-9_overview_high_res_rev12.pdf |title=Overview: Orbital ATK CRS-9 Mission |publisher=[[Organization:NASA|NASA]] |date=2018 |access-date=23 May 2018}}</ref>
* Crew supplies: {{convert|1788|lb|kg|0|order=flip|abbr=on}}
* Science investigations: {{convert|2251|lb|kg|0|order=flip|abbr=on}}
* Spacewalk equipment: {{convert|291|lb|kg|0|order=flip|abbr=on}}
* Vehicle hardware: {{convert|2626|lb|kg|0|order=flip|abbr=on}}
* Computer resources: {{convert|220|lb|kg|0|order=flip|abbr=on}}
* Russian hardware: {{convert|29|lb|kg|0|order=flip|abbr=on}}
* NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer: {{convert|181|lb|kg|0|order=flip|abbr=on}}

[[File:ISS-56 Cygnus OA-9E released by Canadarm2 (2).jpg|center|thumb|Cygnus OA-9E at the Space Station|alt=]]

==References==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name=nasaheoc-scimemi201507>{{cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/5-Scimemi-ISS_Status-NAC-July-2015_FINAL.pdf |title=International Space Station Status |publisher=NASA |last=Scimemi |first=Sam |date=July 2015 |accessdate=15 August 2015}}</ref>
<ref name=nsf-20120222>{{cite news |url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/02/orbital-upbeat-ahead-of-antares-debut/ |title=Space industry giants Orbital upbeat ahead of Antares debut |work=NASASpaceFlight.com |last=Bergin |first=Chris |date=22 February 2012 |accessdate=29 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name=nsf-20150814>{{cite news |url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/08/orbital-atk-progress-return-antares/ |title=Orbital ATK make progress toward Return To Flight of Antares rocket |work=NASASpaceflight.com |last=Gebhardt |first=Chris |date=14 August 2015 |accessdate=14 August 2015}}</ref>
<ref name=orbatkbr-fs00608oa3891>{{cite web |url=https://www.orbitalatk.com/space-systems/human-space-advanced-systems/commercial-resupply-services/docs/FS006_08_OA_3891%20Cygnus.pdf |title=Cygnus Fact Sheet |publisher=Orbital ATK |date=24 March 2015 |accessdate=14 August 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926095427/http://www.orbitalatk.com/space-systems/human-space-advanced-systems/commercial-resupply-services/docs/FS006_08_OA_3891%20Cygnus.pdf |archivedate=26 September 2015 }}</ref>
<ref name=orbatkpr-20150812a>{{cite web |url=http://www.orbitalatk.com/news-room/feature-stories/CRSUpdate/default.aspx |title=Orbital ATK Team on Track for Fall 2015 Cygnus Mission and Antares Return to Flight in 2016 |publisher=Orbital ATK |date=12 August 2015 |accessdate=12 August 2015}}</ref>
<ref name=seds-issschedule>{{cite web |url=http://spider.seds.org/shuttle/iss-sche.html |title=International Space Station Flight Schedule |publisher=Students for the Exploration and Development of Space |date=15 May 2013}}</ref>
<ref name=sfn-launchtracker>{{cite web |url=http://spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html |title=Worldwide launch schedule |work=Spaceflight Now |accessdate=12 February 2015}}</ref>
<ref name=sfn-launchtracker2015>{{cite web |url=http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ |title=Launch Schedule |work=Spaceflight Now |accessdate=18 August 2015}}</ref>
<ref name=sn-20150817>{{cite news |url=http://spacenews.com/nasa-orders-two-more-iss-cargo-missions-from-orbital-atk/ |title=NASA Orders Two More ISS Cargo Missions From Orbital ATK |work=SpaceNews |last=Leone |first=Dan |date=17 August 2015 |accessdate=17 August 2015}}</ref>
<ref name=sn-20150820>{{cite news |url=http://spacenews.com/nasa-considering-more-cargo-orders-from-orbital-atk-spacex/ |title=NASA Considering More Cargo Orders from Orbital ATK, SpaceX |work=SpaceNews |last=Leone |first=Dan |date=20 August 2015 |accessdate=20 August 2015}}</ref>
}}

==External links==

{{Cygnus spaceflights}}
{{Unmanned ISS resupply flights}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Cygnus 009}}
[[Category:Cygnus (spacecraft)]]
[[Category:Supply vehicles for the International Space Station]]

{{Sourceattribution|Cygnus CRS OA-9E|1}}