Cygnus Space Station Cargo Carrier Arrives at NASA Wallops

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Aug 25, 2011, 10:35 ET

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA's work to help develop the next generation of commercial space transportation systems reached another significant achievement yesterday with the arrival at Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia of the Cygnus Pressurized Cargo Module, Orbital Science Corp.'s spacecraft to carry supplies to the International Space Station.

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"This is one more important step in our partnership with U.S. private industry to build safe, reliable and cost effective cargo transportation systems," said Philip McAlister, acting director of commercial spaceflight development at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "We are pleased that Orbital has made this accomplishment and look forward to the company flying the Cygnus spacecraft in 2012."

During the next several months, Orbital's engineering team will integrate the pressurized module with the Cygnus service module that includes the spacecraft's avionics, propulsion and power systems.

The Cygnus spacecraft is scheduled for a demonstration flight from Wallops early next year on an Orbital Taurus II launch vehicle under NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services agreement with the company.

For information about NASA's commercial space transportation efforts, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial/index.html

For images and information about the Cygnus arrival, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/news/cygnus-arrives.html

SOURCE NASA