The Northrop Grumman Cygnus cargo spacecraft was captured by the International Space Station's robotic arm.
Credit: NASA
Credit: NASA
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TechTranscript
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
02:29NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
02:34NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
02:39Erie Union Compound
02:46Erie Union Compound
02:50Houston stations, this is round two.
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.
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05:50NASA 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.
06:19And we 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.
08:16Two 11 a.m. central time, three 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.
11:07You know, the space station brings a lot of visiting vehicles aboard, and we make it seem
11:12regular, but there's nothing regular about making one space station connect to another.
11:16It's incredible every single time.
11:18Welcome aboard the space station, 6 Scopey.
11:23Houston copies all and concurs.
11:25This has been an incredible effort from both our Northrop Grumman and NASA teams, and all
11:29the way from mission planning and preparation leading up to launch, and especially over
11:32the last 48 hours of mission execution.
11:34Outstanding work today to you all, and congrats on successfully capturing the 21st Cygnus
11:38and 50th visiting vehicle to the International Space Station.
11:41Why don't you all go celebrate with some ice cream?
11:46Did you say 50th?
11:47That's incredible.
11:48What an incredible group of teams from around the planet make this happen every single time.
11:51Thank you guys.
12:03You heard wonderful congratulatory remarks.
12:07Northrop Grumman's Cygnus spacecraft supporting the 21st Cygnus and 50th visiting vehicle
12:14to the International Space Station.
12:28Northrop Grumman's Cygnus spacecraft supporting the 21st, Northrop Grumman's 21st commercial
12:34resupply service mission to the International Space Station has been successfully grappled
12:39at the hands of NASA astronaut Matthew Dominic, with NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps serving
12:44as his backup.
12:472.11 a.m. Central Time, 3.11 a.m. Eastern Time is our official time of capture.