Spacecraft From The New Era Embark On Journey Towards International Space Station
The International Space Station (ISS) is set to receive a new wave of cargo deliveries, thanks to the upgraded Cygnus XL spacecraft and the upcoming HTV-X.
Northrop Grumman currently operates the latest version of the Cygnus XL spacecraft, which made its first commercial resupply mission to the ISS in 2013. The berthing process of the Cygnus XL allows for the potential delivery of bulkier objects compared to other cars that use standard docking ports.
The payload capacity of the Cygnus XL has been increased from 2,000 kg to 5,000 kg, and the spacecraft has a 3.07 m diameter and an 8 m length, nearly doubling its internal pressurized volume compared to the original Cygnus. However, unlike the Dream Chaser, a winged vehicle developed by Sierra Space, the Cygnus XL is an expendable car and lacks a heat shield for safe reentry into Earth's atmosphere.
The Dream Chaser, reminiscent of a miniature version of the Space Shuttle, is designed to land like an airplane at the end of its mission. It has a cargo capacity of 910 kg (2,000 lb), which has been increased by adding an expendable module that will attach to the rear of the car.
The HTV-X, an upgraded version of the H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV), developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), shares some similarities with the Cygnus XL. The HTV-X reuses the pressurized module from the HTV, which has been slightly enlarged and is now located at the rear of the spacecraft. The HTV-X is designed to fly freely on its own for up to 18 months after it delivers its cargo to the Station, which JAXA calls the "Technology Demonstration Phase" of the mission.
The cargo module of the HTV-X is attached to a service module responsible for power generation, communications, and propulsion. On the opposite side of the service module, the HTV-X has an unpressurized cargo module, which could potentially be used for components intended to be attached to the outside of the ISS or experiments designed to be exposed to the space environment.
Both the Cygnus XL and the HTV-X will berth to the ISS rather than dock, and they will both burn up after their missions are complete. The Cygnus XL spacecraft, operated by Northrop Grumman, is currently en route to the ISS and is expected to arrive by the time this article is read. The first flight of the HTV-X is tentatively scheduled for late October.
JAXA is investigating future applications for the HTV-X service module, including mating it with other payloads for various low Earth orbit missions. Meanwhile, the Cygnus XL spacecraft continues to serve its purpose as a reliable resupply car for the ISS and potential commercial successors.
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