The International Space Station (ISS) has been a cornerstone of human space exploration since its inception, serving as a microgravity and space environment research laboratory. On September 18, 2013, the ISS was at the forefront of a significant milestone in commercial spaceflight: the launch of Orbital Sciences Corporation's Cygnus spacecraft, marking the beginning of its first resupply mission to the station. This event underscored the growing role of private industry in supporting the ISS and highlighted the collaborative efforts between NASA and commercial partners to sustain the station's operations.

Cygnus Orbital Demonstration Mission 1 (Orb-D1) Launch

On September 18, 2013, at 9:58 AM CDT, Orbital Sciences Corporation's Antares rocket successfully launched from Launch Pad 0A at Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The mission, designated Orbital Demonstration Mission 1 (Orb-D1), aimed to deliver approximately 1,300 pounds (589 kilograms) of cargo to the ISS. This cargo included essential supplies such as food and clothing for the station's crew. The Cygnus spacecraft, which was part of this mission, was successfully injected into orbit, and its solar arrays deployed as expected. However, ground teams encountered an issue with the Cygnus communications system, which experienced problems establishing an initial lock-up to the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) forward link signal. To address this, a temporary workaround was implemented by removing and reapplying forward link modulation at the beginning of every TDRSS pass. Once this procedure was performed, Cygnus maintained a stable lock on TDRSS for the remainder of the scheduled pass. Importantly, the return link telemetry was not affected by this issue. The first delta-V burn (DV1) occurred at 3:07 PM CDT, marking the beginning of the mission's demonstration objectives. This burn was completed successfully, and the mission continued as planned. ([nasa.gov](

ISS Operations and Research Activities on September 18, 2013

On the same day as the Cygnus launch, the ISS crew engaged in various scientific experiments and maintenance tasks. Notably, Flight Engineer (FE)-6 Karen Nyberg conducted the Advanced Colloids Experiment (ACE)-M-1, which involved mixing a sample in the ninth of ten wells of the ACE-M-1 experiment in the Fluids Integrated Rack facility. ACE-M-1 was the first in a series of microscopic imaging investigations of materials containing small colloidal particles that remain evenly dispersed within the material. This experiment aimed to enhance the understanding of colloidal systems, which have applications in various fields, including pharmaceuticals and materials science. ([nasa.gov](

Cygnus Docking and Subsequent Operations

Following the successful launch and initial operations, the Cygnus spacecraft performed a series of maneuvers to rendezvous with the ISS. The spacecraft's Relative Global Positioning System (RGPS) was utilized to guide its approach, demonstrating its capability for precise targeting during coelliptic transfer and approach initiation maneuvers. Phasing burns ADV1-3 were completed nominally, enabling the successful demonstration of the Autonomous Reboost and Approach (REA) Maneuver objective. These maneuvers were critical for ensuring the spacecraft's safe and accurate docking with the ISS. ([nasa.gov](

Upon successful docking, Cygnus delivered approximately 1,300 pounds (589 kilograms) of cargo to the ISS, including food and clothing for the crew. This resupply mission was significant as it marked the first successful demonstration of a cargo resupply flight by Orbital Sciences, highlighting the growing role of private industry in supporting the ISS. ([arstechnica.com](

Conclusion

The events of September 18, 2013, were pivotal in the history of the ISS, showcasing the successful collaboration between NASA and commercial partners like Orbital Sciences Corporation. The launch and subsequent operations of the Cygnus spacecraft not only provided essential supplies to the ISS crew but also demonstrated the viability of private companies in conducting resupply missions to the station. This milestone paved the way for future commercial resupply missions, contributing to the sustained operation and scientific endeavors of the ISS. The ISS continues to serve as a testament to international cooperation and the advancement of human space exploration, with ongoing contributions from both governmental and commercial entities.

Sources

  • NASA — ISS Daily Summary Report – 09/18/13 —
  • NASA — ISS On-Orbit Status Report —
  • NASA — ISS Daily Summary Report – 09/24/13 —
  • NASA — ISS On-Orbit Status Report —
  • NASA — ISS On-Orbit Status Report —