Orbital ATK's OA-4 Cygnus Cargo Module Arrives at ISS

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) used Canada’s robotic Canadarm2 to capture Orbital ATK’s Cygnus capsule at 6:19 am Eastern Standard Time this morning.  It will be installed onto the Unity module of the ISS later today.

This is Orbital ATK’s fourth operational cargo resupply mission to the ISS — Orbital ATK Commercial Resupply Services (CRS)-4 or OA-4.  The first two were successful, while the third was lost in the October 2014 Antares launch failure. 

This module was launched on Sunday from Cape Canaveral, FL using a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket as Orbital ATK continues to get Antares ready to fly again.

Cygnus is delivering more than 7,000 pounds (3,500 kilograms) of supplies, scientific experiments and equipment to the ISS crew.  It is being dubbed Santa’s sleigh since it also includes some holiday gifts for the crew, although three of the six will return to Earth on Friday so will be home in time to celebrate with their families.  A new three-person crew will be launched next week, restoring the ISS to its usual crew complement of six.