A major development at the International Space Station could lead to important scientific breakthroughs.
The International Space Station just had a major development recently, and it could have important implications for the future of science. Orbital ATK delivered the Cygnus cargo ship, loaded with supplies and science for the crew, to the ISS on Saturday morning.
The cargo ship, named the S. S. John Glenn in honor of the late astronaut and U.S. Senator, was captured with the space station’s robotic arm under commander Peggy Whitson of NASA. Now that the ISS has captured the spacecraft, NASA will guide the spacecraft from Houston to the port, where it will be attached for the next 85 days.
Cygnus is loaded with more than 7,600 pounds of cargo,, including research materials that will support dozens of science experiments that could lead to tremendous breakthroughs in areas of fighting cancer and growing crystals. The John Glenn also carried equipment that can be installed outside the space station during a spacewalk that will take place May 12.
“The International Space Station will be capable of dozens of new scientific investigations from NASA and around the world when Orbital ATK’s Cygnus spacecraft delivers more than 7,600 pounds of cargo Saturday, April 22,” NASA said in a statement. “Orbital ATK’s seventh cargo delivery flight to the station launched at 11:11 a.m. EDT Tuesday on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.”
