Antares Speeds Cygnus to ISS with OA-9 Launch

Will Smoot

May 21, 2018

Filtered by Month: May 2018

As we disembark the buses we hear “Check item 347,” and remember that the OA-9 launch team has been on the job since 10:00 pm, 5 hours earlier than us. The clouds are broken and allow us glimpses of stars, but we are also able to see clouds lighting up, and an occasional flash from a storm just offshore.

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Antares at Sunset, May 19, 2018.  Photo credit: Jared Haworth / We Report Space

What's in the OA-9 Cygnus?

Resupply mission OA-9 will carry a mix of cargo weighing 3,350 Kg (7,385 lbs.) plus an array of Cube SATS.  This version of the Cygnus is the Enhanced Cygnus Pressurized Cargo Module (PCM) with an empty weight of 3,375 Kg, standing 639 cm tall (20 ft) and controlled with 32 thrusters.  After delivering supplies it will be reloaded with approximately 3,200 Kg of disposal cargo before departing the ISS.  The typical resupply mission carries crew provisions, food, scientific experiments, EVA supplies and vehicle hardware.  So what's in the OA-9 Cygnus?

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Falcon 9 lifts Bangabandhu-1 to orbit for the nation of Bangladesh.  Photo credit: Mary Ellen Jelen / We Report Space

Launch is a Very Big Day for People of Bangladesh

Bangladesh became the 57th country to have a satellite in space on May 11, 2018 with the launch of Bangabandhu-1. The satellite will reduce the country's dependence on foreign satellite operators. The satellite will provide benefits to the weather department, defense sectors and will provide television and telecommunication services to rural areas in Bangladesh. Plans include telemedicine and e-learning applications.

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Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy side core at LC-39A.  Photo credit: Michael Seeley / We Report Space

Elon Musk discusses Falcon 9 upgrades

In a call with media today, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk discussed upgrades to the Falcon 9. The first Block-5 Falcon is set to launch today with the Bangabandhu Satellite.

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