This may have been our last week @SpaceX for Polaris Dawn training. We reviewed research experiments, flew refresher launch/entry/EVA sims, completed cold testing and suit repair contingencies. We thanked everyone we could find, placed our mission patch on the simulator & signed… pic.twitter.com/vNJvyhqksT

Jared Isaacman  (@rookisaacman) July 21, 2024

Not sure where to post this. But the next SLS core stage has been shipped to Canaveral for its first manned launch.

Falcon 9 was selected by @NASA to launch @NOAA’s latest polar weather satellite! https://t.co/6OfkdWCF3z pic.twitter.com/VQzElY278X

SpaceX  (@SpaceX) July 22, 2024

The Joint Polar Satellite System 4 (JPSS 4) combined with the GOES constellation, account for nearly all of the data used by meteorologists in creating daily forecasts and long-range weather models across the U.S.

SpaceX  (@SpaceX) July 22, 2024

Mission:   Falcon 9, Starlink 10-9

1)  Mission Description:  "A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch another batch of Starlink V2 Mini internet satellites. The Falcon 9’s first stage booster will land on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean."    SpaceFlightNow source

2)  Launch window:   1:45 - 4:21 AM EDT (27 July 2024).  Times are slipping as is typical.

3)  Launch site:   SLC-39A,  Florida

4)  Launch direction:  Northeast

5)  Webcast viewing option:



6)  Observation comments:   None.  Even the latest launch time of 4:21 AM EDT is about 20 minutes too early to see jellyfish from more northern locations like Norfolk, VA

7)  Launch preparations:

a.  Boats heading out:

Signet Warhorse I + ASOG departed PC on Jul 21 @ 4:04pm ET


Bob departed PC on Jul 22 @ 7:28am ET

Source:  NASASpaceFlight.com

b.  Satellites:  Previously provided.

c.  Ready for launch:    Not found

d.  Navigation Warnings:


Source:  NASASpaceFlight.com

8)  First stage return/ocean recovery/disposal:    Recovery on drone ship JRTI.

9)  Launch to deployment events/timeline:    

Hours:Minutes:Seconds after lift-off.  Times approximate.  

00:01:10   Max Q (Moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
00:02:26   1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
00:02:30   1st and 2nd stages separate
00:02:36   2nd stage engine starts (SES-1)
00:02:57   Fairing deployment
00:06:05   1st stage entry burn begins
00:06:28   1st stage entry burn ends
00:07:46   1st stage landing burn begins
00:08:14   1st stage landing
00:08:39   2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)
00:54:40   2nd stage engine starts (SES-2)
00:54:42   2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-2)
01:03:34   Starlink satellites deploy

10)  Orbit insertion:  266 kilometers (perigee) x 275 kilometers (apogee) at 53 degree inclination

So the FAA is allowing them to fly while they investigate the prior mishap?

Unknown at this time.  Delays may happen.  They are awaiting FAA approval.

SpaceX is gearing up for a static test firing of a Falcon 9 tonight as it works to resume flights of its workhorse rocket which was grounded by an upper stage failure earlier this month. Watch live views from the Cape: https://t.co/RyxdGWHY6m pic.twitter.com/F25qDwXTZZ

Spaceflight Now  (@SpaceflightNow) July 25, 2024

SpaceX just rolled a fresh stack of Starlink satellites to the pad encapsulated within their payload fairing. This is hopefully for the upcoming Starlink Group 10-9 mission coming up this weekend from Launch Complex 39A in Florida.https://t.co/bWDuxt2jVs pic.twitter.com/D4cn1IMS9D

— Alejandro Alcantarilla Romera (Alex) (@Alexphysics13) July 25, 2024

ghetto fairings

The SpaceX team submitted our report to the FAA regarding Falcon 9’s launch anomaly, including likely cause and associated corrective actions ? https://t.co/rg5Qiu5sKS

SpaceX  (@SpaceX) July 25, 2024

https://www.spacex.com/updates/#falcon-9-returns-to-flight

Safety and reliability are at the core of SpaceX’s operations. It would not have been possible to achieve our current cadence without this focus

SpaceX  (@SpaceX) July 25, 2024

Thanks to the pace we’ve been able to launch, we’re able to gather unprecedented levels of flight data and are poised to rapidly return to flight as soon as Saturday, July 27 ? https://t.co/DvO0z1NbUm

SpaceX  (@SpaceX) July 25, 2024

JULY 25, 2024
FALCON 9 RETURNS TO FLIGHT
SpaceX submitted its mishap report to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding Falcon 9’s launch anomaly on July 11, 2024. SpaceX’s investigation team, with oversight from the FAA, was able to identify the most probable cause of the mishap and associated corrective actions to ensure the success of future missions.

Post-flight data reviews confirmed Falcon 9’s first stage booster performed nominally through ascent, stage separation, and a successful droneship landing. During the first burn of Falcon 9’s second stage engine, a liquid oxygen leak developed within the insulation around the upper stage engine. The cause of the leak was identified as a crack in a sense line for a pressure sensor attached to the vehicle’s oxygen system. This line cracked due to fatigue caused by high loading from engine vibration and looseness in the clamp that normally constrains the line. Despite the leak, the second stage engine continued to operate through the duration of its first burn, and completed its engine shutdown, where it entered the coast phase of the mission in the intended elliptical parking orbit.

A second burn of the upper stage engine was planned to circularize the orbit ahead of satellite deployment. However, the liquid oxygen leak on the upper stage led to the excessive cooling of engine components, most importantly those associated with delivery of ignition fluid to the engine. As a result, the engine experienced a hard start rather than a controlled burn, which damaged the engine hardware and caused the upper stage to subsequently lose attitude control. Even so, the second stage continued to operate as designed, deploying the Starlink satellites and successfully completing stage passivation, a process of venting down stored energy on the stage, which occurs at the conclusion of every Falcon mission.

Following deployment, the Starlink team made contact with 10 of the satellites to send early burn commands in an attempt to raise their altitude. Unfortunately, the satellites were in an enormously high-drag environment with a very low perigee of only 135 km above the Earth. As a result, all 20 Starlink satellites from this launch re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere. By design, Starlink satellites fully demise upon reentry, posing no threat to public safety. To-date, no debris has been reported after the successful deorbit of Starlink satellites.

SpaceX engineering teams have performed a comprehensive and thorough review of all SpaceX vehicles and ground systems to ensure we are putting our best foot forward as we return to flight. For near term Falcon launches, the failed sense line and sensor on the second stage engine will be removed. The sensor is not used by the flight safety system and can be covered by alternate sensors already present on the engine. The design change has been tested at SpaceX’s rocket development facility in McGregor, Texas, with enhanced qualification analysis and oversight by the FAA and involvement from the SpaceX investigation team. An additional qualification review, inspection, and scrub of all sense lines and clamps on the active booster fleet led to a proactive replacement in select locations.

Safety and reliability are at the core of SpaceX’s operations. It would not have been possible to achieve our current cadence without this focus, and thanks to the pace we’ve been able to launch, we’re able to gather unprecedented levels of flight data and are poised to rapidly return to flight, safely and with increased reliability. Our missions are of critical importance – safely carrying astronauts, customer payloads, and thousands of Starlink satellites to orbit – and they rely on the Falcon family of rockets being one of the most reliable in the world. We thank the FAA and our customers for their ongoing work and support.

The best part is no part

Groovy, so unless something goes seriously wrong with this next launch, Falcon and the Dragons are back in action?

Looks like it to me. Back to work boys.

Sounds like it was a tube running to a geewiz sensor they don't need, we always called em science projects. No one will put a loose clamp on it if it's not there anymore

Breaking from the @NASA Crew-9 Conference: @SpaceX Dragon Recovery operations are shifting from the East Coast back to the West Coast, in response to findings from the Trunk re-entry. A Dragon recovery vessel will be moving to the West Coast "some time next year".

After the…

Ryan Caton  (@dpoddolphinpro) July 26, 2024

Crew-9 will still splashdown on the East Coast, and the transition will begin shortly after Crew-9's return.

Ryan Caton  (@dpoddolphinpro) July 26, 2024

I seem to recall that a rather large piece of the trunk from Inspiration 4 was found in Australia.

It makes sense to me to come down near the west coast. Not just because of the aforementioned issues. But also so the capsule can be delivered straight to Hawthorne for inspection and refurbishment.

I'm not completely sure but I think their turnaround ops are done at CCSFS. So it may hurt more than help. I don't think these thing can be flown with hypers so it will need to be trucked back.

NASA and SpaceX plan to launch the agency’s SpaceX #Crew9 mission to @Space_Station no earlier than Aug. 18.

The international crew will lift off from @NASAKennedy's Launch Complex 39A aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft.

More: https://t.co/QQydb8Eed5 pic.twitter.com/MLjJiEcpbS

— NASA Commercial Crew (@Commercial_Crew) July 26, 2024

Moon colonization when?

Probably 2040-2050. Elon doesn't care much about us being on the Moon, but ten bucks is ten bucks.

Not likely.  Who will pay for it?  Good luck justifying it.

Moon colonization makes much more sense than a Martian colony. I know Mars is Elons obsession but you need to learn to walk before running an ultra-marathon, while juggling flaming chainsaws and fighting off wild dogs. There are also some very useful things on the moon. Just in terms of location. Mars... What does it have besides a very thin atmosphere?

As I have said before. The movie the Martian should not be considered as, or become a documentary.

It does seem to be an often repeated plot point in a lot of science fiction stories that I've seen that the first attempt at a Martian colony will achieve nothing but a pile of corpses...

How will that happen?  The trunk doesn't currently have propulsive capability does it?  At least enough to deorbit.  Also attitude control.

The booster aft facing camera was providing terrible video.

There appeared to be a lot of matter floating around inside the payload fairing prior to fairing jettison.

I don't see LOX spewing from the second stage.

Starlink 10-9 appears to be successful through SECO-1.

The Starlinks were deployed and zero mention of issues.  With another two launches likely this weekend, confidence should be restored in the upper stage.

Mission:   Falcon 9, Starlink 10-4

1)  Mission Description:  "A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch another batch of Starlink V2 Mini internet satellites. The Falcon 9’s first stage booster will land on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean."    SpaceFlightNow source

2)  Launch window:   1:09 - 4:01 AM EDT (28 July 2024).   Launched at 1:09 AM EDT.

3)  Launch site:   SLC-40,  Florida

4)  Launch direction:  Northeast

5)  Webcast viewing option:



6)  Observation comments:   Even the latest launch time of 4:01 AM EDT is about 40 minutes too early to see jellyfish from more northern locations like Norfolk, VA

7)  Launch preparations:

a.  Boats heading out:


Gav Cornwell@SpaceOffshore.  A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship has made it to the Starlink 10-4 LZ. Third time lucky, no turning back around this time

b.  Satellites:  Previously provided.

c.  Ready for launch:  


A Falcon 9 rocket stands at the ready to support the Starlink 10-4 mission, which will launch from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on July 28, 2024. Image: Adam Bernstein/Spaceflight Now

d.  Navigation Warnings:


Source:  NASASpaceFlight.com

8)  First stage return/ocean recovery/disposal:    Recovery on drone ship ASOG.

9)  Launch to deployment events/timeline:    

Hours:Minutes:Seconds after lift-off.  Times approximate.  

00:01:11   Max Q (Moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
00:02:26   1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
00:02:29   1st and 2nd stages separate
00:02:36   2nd stage engine starts (SES-1)
00:02:57   Fairing deployment
00:06:06   1st stage entry burn begins
00:06:27   1st stage entry burn ends
00:07:45   1st stage landing burn begins
00:08:14   1st stage landing
00:08:41   2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)
00:54:47   2nd stage engine starts (SES-2)
00:54:49   2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-2)
01:03:41   Starlink satellites deploy

10)  Orbit insertion:  272 kilometers (perigee) x 281 kilometers (apogee) at 53 degree inclination

Mission:  Falcon 9, Starlink 9-4

1)  Mission description:  "A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch another batch of 20 Starlink internet, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities, from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E). The Falcon 9’s first stage booster will land on the drone ship ‘Of Course I Still Love You’ in the Pacific Ocean." Source

2)  Launch window:   12:24 - 4:14 AM PDT (28 July 2024).  Launched at 2:22 AM PDT.

3)  Launch site:   SLC-4E, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California

4)  Launch direction:   Southeasterly

5)  Webcast viewing options:



6)  Observation comments:   No sunlit jellyfish on this launch.
 
7)  Launch preparations:

a.  Boats heading out.

Lindsay C + OCISLY departed PoLB on Jul 26 @ 2:18pm PT / 5:18pm ET

Source:  NASASpaceFlight.com

Go Beyond departed PoLB on Jul 26 @ 3:55pm PT / 6:55pm ET

Source:  NASASpaceFlight.com

b.  Satellites:  Previously provided

c.  Ready for launch:   Not found

d.  Navigation warning:


Source:  NASASpaceFlight.com

8)  First stage return/ocean recovery/disposal:    Recovery on drone ship OCISLY

9)  Launch to deployment events/timeline:      

Hours:Minutes:Seconds after lift-off.  Times approximate.

00:01:07   Max Q (Moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
00:02:25   1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
00:02:28   1st and 2nd stages separate
00:02:35   2nd stage engine starts (SES-1)
00:03:02   Fairing deployment
00:06:01   1st stage entry burn begins
00:06:27   1st stage entry burn ends
00:07:49   1st stage landing burn begins
00:08:12   1st stage landing
00:08:39   2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)
00:52:20   2nd stage engine starts (SES-2)
00:52:21   2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-2)
00:59:14   Starlink satellites deploy

10)  Orbit destination:  269 kilometers perigee x 279 kilometers apogee, 53.16 degree inclination

Mars has carbon, which the Moon does not. It also has other volatiles, and much more water, and a higher gravity, and a chance for Thorium or Uranium. That makes it a better location for a colony.
The Moon might be a good place for manufacturing, but it will take much more materials to become self-supporting.

This link provides a lot of information on this issue.

Bump. Liftoff in ~16 minutes.

Looks a little crooked on landing. But otherwise fine.

SpaceX completes 300th booster reflight during first of planned back-to-back Falcon 9 launches

"SpaceX continued its post-mishap resurgence with the first of planned back-to-back launches in the early morning hours of Sunday. It staged two of its Falcon 9 rockets to launch from its pads in both Florida and California.

First up was the Starlink 10-4 mission, which added a batch of 23 Starlink Version 2 Mini satellites to its growing mega-constellation. Liftoff happened at 1:09 a.m. EDT (0509 UTC). This was also the 300th launch of a flight-proven booster for SpaceX."

Congrats to the @SpaceX Falcon team on completing 3 successful launches this weekend!

Elon Musk  (@elonmusk) July 28, 2024

The livestream on SpaceX is working again.

Doug is in dry dock right now and when it’s done, we will send Bob in for a similar round of maintenance. Go Cosmos is pinching hitting as the second support and fairing recovery vessel in the meantime. Great execution by the team on its first mission with flawless recoveries!

Kiko Dontchev  (@TurkeyBeaver) July 29, 2024

Mission:   Falcon 9, Starlink 10-6

1)  Mission Description:  "A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch another batch of Starlink V2 Mini internet satellites. The Falcon 9’s first stage booster will land on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean."    SpaceFlightNow source

2)  Launch window:   1:01 - 4:19 AM EDT (2 August 2024).  

3)  Launch site:   SLC-39A,  Florida

4)  Launch direction:  Northeast

5)  Webcast viewing options:



SpaceX webcast

6)  Observation comments:    I ran the ascent trajectory file for Norfolk, VA and the second stage does not enter sunlit even at the last launch time of 4:19 AM EDT.    A 5:00 AM EDT launch time (not planned for this mission....just a data point) would give Norfolk about 1.5 minutes of jellyfish opportunity and that would improve with even later launch times.  

It may be possible to see some jellyfish effect with the light from the second stage engine.  If anyone wants viewing look angles let me know.    Actually, it makes more sense to cover that aspect in the east coast jellyfish thread.

7)  Launch preparations:

a.  Boats heading out:

Signet Warhorse I + ASOG departed PC on Jul 30 @ 5:31pm ET

Source:  NASASpaceFlight.com


Credit:  Gav Cornwell@SpaceOffshore.   Departure! A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship is heading to sea to support Starlink 10-6. Tug Signet Warhorse I is towing.

Go Cosmos departed PC on Jul 31 @ 5:55am ET

Source:  NASASpaceFlight.com

b.  Satellites:  Previously provided.

c.  Ready for launch:  


Source:  NASASpaceFlight.com

d.  Navigation Warnings:


Source:  NASASpaceFlight.com

8)  First stage return/ocean recovery/disposal:    Recovery on drone ship ASOG.

9)  Launch to deployment events/timeline:    

Hours:Minutes:Seconds after lift-off.  Times approximate.  

00:01:10   Max Q (Moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
00:02:26   1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
00:02:30   1st and 2nd stages separate
00:02:37   2nd stage engine starts (SES-1)
00:02:56   Fairing separation
00:06:06   1st stage entry burn begins
00:06:28   1st stage entry burn ends
00:07:53   1st stage landing burn begins
00:08:15   1st stage landing
00:08:39   2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)
00:54:59   2nd stage engine starts (SES-2)
00:55:00   2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-2)
01:03:53   Starlink satellites deploy

10)  Orbit insertion:  274 kilometers (perigee) x 285 kilometers (apogee) at 53 degree inclination

Mission:   Falcon 9, Cygnus NG-21

1)  Mission Description:  "A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus cargo freighter to the International Space Station. The mission is designated as NG-21. The launch vehicle for Cygnus missions was changed from Northrop Grumman’s own Antares 230+ rocket to SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine ended engine and booster production for the Antares program. The Falcon 9 first stage will return to Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station."    SpaceFlightNow source

2)  Launch window:   11:02 AM EDT (4 August 2024).    Expect 5 August or later.

3)  Launch site:   SLC-40,  Florida

4)  Launch direction:  Northeast

5)  Webcast viewing option:



6)  Observation comments:    None

7)  Launch preparations:

a.  Boats heading out:

Bob departed PC on Aug 1 @ 6:38pm ET

Source:  NASASpaceFlight.com

b.  Satellite:


Credit:   Thales Alenia Space


Credit:  SpaceX

c.  Ready for launch:  


Credit:  Charles Boyer

d.  Navigation Warnings:  Not found

8)  First stage return/ocean recovery/disposal:    Return to Cape Landing Zone 1

9)  Launch to deployment events/timeline:    

Hours:Minutes:Seconds after lift-off.  Times approximate.  

00:01:08   Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
00:02:18   1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
00:02:22   1st and 2nd stages separate
00:02:30   2nd stage engine starts (SES-1)
00:02:35   Boostback Burn Starts
00:02:58   Fairing deployment
00:03:24   Boostback Burn Ends
00:06:17   1st stage entry burn start
00:06:34   1st stage entry burn ends
00:07:24   1st stage landing burn start
00:07:31   1st stage landing
00:08:33   2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)
00:14:35   Cygnus Deploys

10)  Orbit insertion:  ISS rendezvous orbit.

Good booster landing. Everything else looks fine.

Cygnus up next...

todays launch is scrubbed

Due to unfavorable weather, we are standing down from today's launch of @northropgrumman's NG-21 mission. Next launch opportunity is Sunday, August 4 ? https://t.co/bsNx0Xb6I3

SpaceX  (@SpaceX) August 3, 2024

Mission:  Falcon 9, Starlink 11-1

1)  Mission description:  "A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch another batch of 23 Starlink internet from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E). The Falcon 9’s first stage booster will land on the drone ship ‘Of Course I Still Love You’ in the Pacific Ocean." Source

2)  Launch window:   12:24 - 3:52 AM PDT (4 August 2024)

3)  Launch site:   SLC-4E, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California

4)  Launch direction:   Southeasterly

5)  Webcast viewing option:



6)  Observation comments:   No sunlit jellyfish on this launch.
 
7)  Launch preparations:

a.  Boats heading out.

Lindsay C + OCISLY departed PoLB on Aug 2 @ 2:27pm PT / 5:27pm ET

Source:  NASASpaceFlight.com

Go Beyond departed PoLB on Aug 2 @ 4:27pm PT / 7:27pm ET

Source:  NASASpaceFlight.com

b.  Satellites:  Previously provided

c.  Ready for launch:   Not found

d.  Navigation warning:


Source:  NASASpaceFlight.com

8)  First stage return/ocean recovery/disposal:    Recovery on drone ship OCISLY

9)  Launch to deployment events/timeline:      

Hours:Minutes:Seconds after lift-off.  Times approximate.

00:01:07   Max Q (Moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
00:02:26   1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
00:02:29   1st and 2nd stages separate
00:02:36   2nd stage engine starts (SES-1)
00:02:56   Fairing deployment
00:06:05   1st stage entry burn begins
00:06:29   1st stage entry burn ends
00:07:51   1st stage landing burn begins
00:08:13   1st stage landing
00:08:40   2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)
00:53:53   2nd stage engine starts (SES-2)
00:53:54   2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-2)
01:00:47   Starlink satellites deploy

10)  Orbit destination:  269 kilometers perigee x 279 kilometers apogee, 53.16 degree inclination

Weather is Green.

Less that 10 minutes to launch. Booster returning to LZ1 at the Cape.

Cygnus separation confirmed pic.twitter.com/0Z3WF03nGx

SpaceX  (@SpaceX) August 4, 2024

The video of the booster coming in was amazing.

The launch video did not show this as well as the picture below. It was happening just before Max Q (around 50-55 seconds after launch).

#Cygnus' solar array deployment is complete. After launch, the spacecraft missed its first targeted altitude burn. We continue to target Tuesday, Aug. 6, to arrive at the @Space_Station and are evaluating any schedule impacts. Follow our blog for updates: https://t.co/vTFTmoGryr

NASA  (@NASA) August 4, 2024

I find this NASA tweet in their launch thread to be missing some important information. According to their blog post, not only did Cygnus miss its first burn, but the rescheduled burn was aborted. @NASASpaceflight https://t.co/kmZlpkKdLu pic.twitter.com/ryHovJBi2m

Kevin Michael Reed  (@kmreed) August 4, 2024

"Cygnus is at a safe altitude, and Northrop Grumman engineers are working a new burn and trajectory plan. The team aims to achieve the spacecraft’s original capture time on station, which is currently slated for 3:10 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 6."

Source

All good now with NG-21 Cygnus:

"The Cygnus spacecraft has completed two delta velocity burns, and it remains on track for a capture by the space station’s robotic arm slated for 3:10 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 6. The spacecraft is in a safe trajectory, and all other systems are…

Chris Bergin - NSF  (@NASASpaceflight) August 5, 2024

https://blogs.nasa.gov/commercialresupply/2024/08/05/nasas-northrop-grumman-cygnus-continues-to-space-station/

Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft continues on its way to the International Space Station following launch at 11:02 a.m. EDT Aug. 4 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The Cygnus spacecraft completed the deployment of its two solar arrays at 2:21 p.m. the same day.

The Cygnus spacecraft has completed two delta velocity burns, and it remains on track for a capture by the space station’s robotic arm slated for 3:10 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 6. The spacecraft is in a safe trajectory, and all other systems are operating normally.

Shortly after launch on Sunday, the spacecraft performed as designed by cancelling a scheduled engine burn due to a slightly low initial pressure reading flagged by the Cygnus onboard detection system. Engineers at Northrop Grumman’s mission control center in Dulles, Virginia evaluated the pressure reading, confirmed it was acceptable and re-worked the burn plan to arrive at the space station on the originally planned schedule.