Private Cygnus Cargo Ship Captured By Space Station Robotic Arm

Space.com

The Northrop Grumman Cygnus cargo spacecraft was captured by the International Space Station's robotic arm.  Credit: NASA

Transcript

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.

02:53We're in step 4.2 and we're waiting to capture for lighting condition.

03:00Houston copies.

03:01The 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.

03:35This 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 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

04:41the target.

04:42We're ready with the lighting and we can complete step 4.2 on your go.

04:49Houston copies.

04:50Go for it.

05:41NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps on board the space station confirmed that they are good

05:57to 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.

06:19We have confirmed movement.

06:21The 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're seeing live views now as NASA astronaut Matthew Dominic pushes in the robotic arm

06:47to Cygnus.

06:53The 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

07:09that is directly below the horizontal bar.

07:27Two meters away.

08:162.11 a.m. central time, 3.11 a.m. eastern time, while the space station flew over the

08:42South Atlantic Ocean, Northrop Grumman's 21st Commercial Resupply Service mission was

08:48successfully captured at the hands of NASA astronaut Matthew Dominic.

09:05The Cygnus cargo spacecraft, as you see on your screen, is now securely attached to the

09:10space station's robotic arm.

09:19Next up is going to be the installation of the Cygnus spacecraft.

09:24That 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,

09:38and 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.

10:38Houston, station on two, the Cygnus capture is complete.

11:02We'll go 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.

11:16It's incredible every single time.

11:17Welcome aboard the space station, 6 Scope.

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, and congrats

11:36on 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.

11:52Thank 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 at the hands

12:40of NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick, with NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps serving as his backup.

12:472.11 a.m. Central Time, 3.11 a.m. Eastern Time is our official time of capture.

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