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By NASA
January 9, 2021
Picture Of the Cygnus space freighter departing the International Space Station minutes after being launched from the Canadarm2 robotic arm. Credit: NASA
Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus area freighter departs the International Spaceport station moments after being released from the Canadarm2 robotic arm on Thursday, January 7, 2021, completing a 93- day freight mission connected to the orbiting laboratory.
The Cygnus spacecraft effectively left the International Spaceport Station 3 months after arriving at the spaceport station to deliver about 8,000 pounds of scientific experiments and products to the orbiting lab.
Prior to departure, the crew packed Cygnus with the Saffire V examination and the SharkSat hosted payload to be conducted throughout a prolonged mission in orbit. On January 26, Northrop Grumman flight controllers in Dulles, Virginia, will start Cygnus’ deorbit to carry out a safe re-entry, burning up in Earth’s atmosphere.
