OREANDA-NEWS. American cargo spacecraft Cygnus successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS). The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) conducted a live broadcast of this process.

On November 2, the launch vehicle Antares took off with the Cygnus spacecraft from the launching site in the state of Virginia. The ship arrived at the ISS on November 4. Docking with the station was started by NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Christina Koch who used the Canadarm2 mechanical manipulator to capture Cygnus, after that control was transferred to NASA.

The spaceship delivered into orbit basic necessities and materials for scientific experiments, including a special vest for protection from space radiation AstroRad Vest. It is supposed that this equipment can be used subsequently during missions to the Moon and Mars. In addition, Cygnus brought to the station an experimental Zero-G Oven, designed for cooking in gravity. It can be also used during long space missions in future. According to NASA, another experiment called The Made in Space Recycler is relates to the processing of plastic in space for use as a material for 3D orbital printers.

As the representatives of NASA report, this flight became the first mission of Cygnus in the framework of the second contract for the delivery of cargo to the space station. Unlike previous Cygnus missions, this flight for the first time delivered perishable goods, which are to be loaded into the ship not earlier than 24 hours before launch.