Cygnus (spacecraft)

Cygnus

Cygnus spacecraft approaching the International Space Station for the NG-12 mission
Manufacturer	Northrop Grumman
Country of origin	United States
Operator	Northrop Grumman
Applications	ISS resupply
Specifications
Spacecraft type	Uncrewed cargo vehicle
Launch mass	6,600 kg
Dry mass	3,400 kg
Payload capacity	3,000 kg
Volume	18.9 m3
Power	3.5 kW
Design life	1 week to 2 years [1]
Dimensions
Length	5.1 m
Diameter	3.07 m
Production
Status	In service
On order	5
Built	21
Launched	20
Operational	1
Retired	18
Lost	1
Maiden launch	18 September 2013
Last launch	30 January 2024

Cygnus is an expendable American cargo spacecraft developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation but manufactured and launched by Northrop Grumman Space Systems as part of NASA's Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) program. It is usually launched by Northrop Grumman's Antares rocket from the Wallops Flight Facility, although three flights were on ULA's Atlas V and three are planned for SpaceX's Falcon 9, in both cases launching from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. It transports supplies to the International Space Station (ISS) following the retirement of the American Space Shuttle. Since August 2000, ISS resupply missions have been regularly flown by the Russian Progress spacecraft, as well as by the European Automated Transfer Vehicle, and the Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle. With the Cygnus spacecraft and the SpaceX Dragon, NASA seeks to increase its partnerships with domestic commercial aviation and aeronautics industry.^[2]

Cygnus is the Latinized Greek word for swan and a northern constellation.