Almost a year since its last commercial cargo freighter was lost in a launch explosion, Orbital ATK is again preparing to send its uncrewed Cygnus spacecraft to the International Space Station, staging the vehicle at a different launch site and debuting its mission patch.
The aerospace company is targeting Dec. 3 for the return to flight of its Cygnus on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. If the schedule holds, the mission will lift off at approximately 6 p.m. EST (2300 GMT) from Complex 41 for a three-day journey to the space station.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
Deke Slayton waited 16 years to fly in space after he was selected as one of the original seven Mercury astronauts in 1959.
Grounded for more than a decade as the result of a heart condition, when Slayton finally did fly, he was the "world's oldest space rookie," a distinction the then-President of the United States, Gerald Ford, highlighted when he asked the 51-year-old pilot if he had any recommendations for those who would like to follow in his footsteps.
"The best advice I can give," Slayton radioed from orbit in July 1975, "is decide what you want to do, and then never give up until you've done it."
Forty years later, Slayton's advice, and name, are living on in a commercial spaceflight company's continuing efforts to supply the International Space Station. For a second time, Orbital ATK has christened its next station-bound Cygnus freighter after Slayton.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
The S.S. Deke Slayton II is now on its way to the International Space Station.
The Orbital ATK Cygnus cargo spacecraft, named in honor of the late Mercury astronaut and commercial spaceflight pioneer, lifted off on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket from Launch Complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 4:44 p.m. EST (2144 GMT) on Sunday (Dec. 6).
After a 21 minute ascent, the Deke Slayton II was released into orbit from the Atlas V's Centaur second stage to begin its rendezvous with the space station.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 12-09-2015 05:29 PM
NASA videos:
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 02-19-2016 07:52 AM
'SS Deke Slayton II' departs space station
Orbital ATK's Cygnus cargo spacecraft, the "S.S. Deke Slayton II," left the International Space Station on Friday (Feb. 19), after spending 72 days berthed to the orbiting outpost.
Expedition 46 astronauts Scott Kelly and Tim Kopra commanded the space station's Canadarm2 robotic arm to release the Cygnus at 6:26 a.m. CST (1226 GMT) while the two spacecraft were flying 250 miles (400 km) over Bolivia.
Earlier on Friday, NASA ground controllers at Johnson Space Center maneuvered the Cygnus into place for its departure. The Cygnus was detached from the Earth-facing side of the station's Unity module at 4:40 a.m. CST (1040 GMT).
On Saturday, Orbital ATK flight controllers will command the Cygnus to fire its engines twice to deorbit and re-enter the Earth's atmosphere to burn up over the Pacific Ocean.
posted 10-14-2015 04:15 PM
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