WIKIARCHIVES.SPACE

Program Overview
The Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) was a series of uncrewed European spacecraft developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) to resupply the International Space Station (ISS). Launched between 2008 and 2014, the ATV program consisted of five missions, each delivering cargo, fuel, water, air, and scientific equipment to support ISS operations. The ATV was Europe's most significant contribution to the ISS and demonstrated autonomous docking capabilities and advanced orbital servicing technologies.

Objectives
The ATV program supported multiple mission goals: Deliver pressurized cargo and essential supplies such as food, clothing, and equipment for the ISS crew. Transfer fuel, water, and oxygen to the station's storage tanks. Provide reboost capability to maintain the ISS’s orbital altitude. Serve as a waste disposal vehicle by burning up during controlled atmospheric reentry.

Key Details
- Launch Vehicle: Ariane 5 ES
- Launch Site: Centre Spatial Guyanais, Kourou, French Guiana
- Docking Port: Russian Zvezda service module (aft port)
- Docking Method: Autonomous rendezvous and docking via GPS and laser ranging
- First Launch: March 9, 2008 (ATV-1 "Jules Verne")
- Final Launch: July 29, 2014 (ATV-5 "Georges Lemaître")

Specifications
- Length: 10.3 meters
- Diameter: 4.5 meters
- Launch Mass: ~20,000 kg
- Cargo Capacity: Up to 7,667 kg (combined pressurized and unpressurized)

Missions
1. ATV-1 Jules Verne (2008)
2. ATV-2 Johannes Kepler (2011)
3. ATV-3 Edoardo Amaldi (2012)
4. ATV-4 Albert Einstein (2013)
5. ATV-5 Georges Lemaître (2014)

Outcomes and Legacy
The ATV program successfully completed all five missions, providing vital logistics and demonstrating autonomous flight and docking technologies. Its legacy continues in future ESA contributions, including NASA’s Orion service module, for which ATV technologies have been adapted. The program also laid the foundation for European participation in future deep space logistics and servicing missions.

Program Overview
The H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV), also known as "Kounotori" (meaning "white stork" in Japanese), is an uncrewed cargo spacecraft developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to resupply the International Space Station (ISS). Designed to deliver supplies to the ISS, the HTV played a crucial role in supporting the station's operations and the Japanese Experiment Module (Kibō). The program demonstrated Japan's capability in autonomous spacecraft operations and significantly contributed to international space endeavors. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Objectives
The primary objectives of the HTV program included: Delivering essential supplies such as food, clothing, and equipment for the ISS crew. Transferring fuel, water, and oxygen to the station's storage tanks. Providing reboost capability to maintain the ISS’s orbital altitude. Serving as a waste disposal vehicle by burning up during controlled atmospheric reentry.

Key Details
- Length: Approximately 10 meters (including thrusters)
- Diameter: 4.4 meters
- Launch Mass: Up to 16,500 kg
- Cargo Capacity: Up to 6,000 kg (combined pressurized and unpressurized)
- Launch Vehicle: H-IIB rocket
- Launch Site: Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
- First Launch: September 10, 2009 (HTV-1)
- Final Launch: May 20, 2020 (HTV-9) :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Structure
The HTV consists of several components: Pressurized Logistics Carrier (PLC): A pressurized section for cargo that requires a controlled environment, such as food, clothing, and experiments. Unpressurized Logistics Carrier (ULC): An unpressurized section for external payloads and hardware that do not require a controlled environment. Avionics Module: Houses the vehicle's avionics systems, including navigation and communication equipment. Propulsion Module: Contains the main engines and thrusters used for maneuvering and reboost operations.

Mission Profile
After launch, the HTV would autonomously navigate to the ISS using GPS and rendezvous sensors. Upon reaching a hold point near the station, the ISS crew would use the station's robotic arm, Canadarm2, to capture the vehicle and berth it to the Harmony module's nadir port. The HTV could remain attached to the ISS for about 30 days, during which the crew would unload supplies and load waste materials. After completing its mission, the HTV would be unberthed and perform a controlled reentry, burning up upon reentry into Earth's atmosphere. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Achievements
The HTV program successfully completed nine missions between 2009 and 2020, delivering vital supplies and demonstrating autonomous flight and rendezvous capabilities. It played a key role in maintaining ISS operations, especially following the retirement of the Space Shuttle program. The HTV's design and operational success have influenced the development of future cargo spacecraft, including the upcoming HTV-X, an improved version of the HTV scheduled for its first launch in 2022.

Program Overview
The Cargo Dragon program, operated by SpaceX under NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract, is a series of uncrewed cargo missions to the International Space Station (ISS). Based on the Dragon spacecraft platform, the program began in 2012 and became a key component of ISS logistics, delivering pressurized and unpressurized cargo, science experiments, hardware, and crew supplies. It is the first commercial cargo vehicle capable of returning significant amounts of payload safely to Earth.

Objectives
The main goals of the Cargo Dragon program include: Transporting scientific experiments, crew supplies, and station hardware to and from the ISS. Supporting microgravity research in biology, physics, and materials science. Returning time-sensitive cargo and completed experiments to Earth via ocean splashdown recovery. Demonstrating cost-effective, commercial delivery capabilities to low-Earth orbit.

Key Details
- Manufacturer: SpaceX
- Variants: Dragon 1 (CRS-1 to CRS-20), Dragon 2 (CRS-21 onward)
- Launch Vehicle: Falcon 9
- Launch Site: Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
- Recovery: Splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean (Dragon 1) or Gulf of Mexico (Dragon 2)
- First Launch: May 22, 2012 (Dragon C2+)
- First Operational Mission: October 8, 2012 (CRS-1)
- Reusable: Yes (capsule and trunk for Dragon 2; capsule only for Dragon 1)

Structure
Cargo Dragon consists of a pressurized capsule for sensitive and recoverable payloads, and an unpressurized "trunk" used for larger hardware, solar arrays, and external payloads. The capsule contains avionics, propulsion, thermal control, and a parachute system for Earth return. Dragon 2 improved upon Dragon 1 with enhanced automation, greater cargo volume, and faster refurbishment turnaround.

Mission Profile
Cargo Dragon launches atop a Falcon 9 rocket, separates in orbit, and uses onboard thrusters to rendezvous with the ISS. It is captured by the station's robotic arm (Dragon 1) or docks autonomously (Dragon 2) and remains berthed for several weeks while cargo is transferred. Upon departure, the capsule reenters Earth's atmosphere and splashes down for recovery and cargo return.

Achievements
The Cargo Dragon program was the first commercial spacecraft to deliver and return cargo from the ISS. It demonstrated reliable, reusable logistics support and contributed to a new model of public-private partnership in space. Dragon 2 continues to deliver vital science and supplies, supporting the transition to sustainable human spaceflight operations.

Overview
The Cygnus spacecraft is an expendable American automated cargo vehicle designed to deliver supplies to the International Space Station (ISS). Initially developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation under NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program, Cygnus has been operated by Northrop Grumman since 2018. The spacecraft consists of a Service Module and a Pressurized Cargo Module, capable of carrying crew supplies, equipment, and scientific experiments to destinations in low-Earth orbit. [Source: Northrop Grumman](https://www.northropgrumman.com/space/cygnus-spacecraft)

Development
Cygnus was developed to fulfill NASA's need for commercial cargo delivery services to the ISS following the retirement of the Space Shuttle. The spacecraft features a pressurized cargo module built by Thales Alenia Space, based on the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module previously used by the Space Shuttle, and a service module derived from Orbital's GEOStar satellite bus. [Source: Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cygnus_%28spacecraft%29)

Key Features
- Pressurized Cargo Module (PCM): Provides a pressurized environment for transporting cargo, including crew supplies, scientific experiments, and hardware. - Service Module: Contains avionics, propulsion, and power systems necessary for autonomous rendezvous and operations. - Enhanced Cargo Capacity: The Enhanced Cygnus variant introduced in 2015 increased cargo capacity from 18 m³ to 27 m³. - Late Load Capability: Allows for the loading of time-sensitive cargo closer to launch time. - ISS Reboost Capability: Equipped to perform reboost maneuvers to adjust the ISS's orbit. [Source: Northrop Grumman](https://www.northropgrumman.com/space/cygnus-spacecraft)

Operational History
Since its inaugural flight in 2013, Cygnus has conducted numerous resupply missions to the ISS. The spacecraft is typically launched aboard Northrop Grumman's Antares rocket from the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. However, it has also been launched using other vehicles, such as the Atlas V and Falcon 9, to ensure mission continuity. [Source: Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cygnus_%28spacecraft%29)

Mission Highlights
- First Flight: The maiden flight occurred in September 2013, marking Cygnus as one of the primary commercial suppliers for the ISS. - Enhanced Variant Introduction: In 2015, the Enhanced Cygnus variant was introduced, featuring a larger cargo module and improved solar arrays, increasing cargo capacity and efficiency. - ISS Reboost: In June 2022, Cygnus successfully performed a reboost of the ISS's orbit, demonstrating its capability to adjust the station's altitude. [Source: Northrop Grumman](https://news.northropgrumman.com/news/releases/northrop-grummans-cygnusTM-spacecraft-successfully-reboosts-the-international-space-station) - Adaptability: Cygnus has been launched aboard various rockets, including Antares, Atlas V, and Falcon 9, showcasing its versatility in mission planning.

Recent Developments
In March 2025, NASA and Northrop Grumman announced the cancellation of the NG-22 Cygnus mission due to damage sustained by the Pressurized Cargo Module during transit. The agencies are assessing the module's condition to determine its suitability for future flights. [Source: SpaceNews](https://spacenews.com/cygnus-mission-to-iss-scrapped-after-finding-spacecraft-damage/)

Future Prospects
The Cygnus design serves as the foundation for future space exploration missions, including delivery and logistics services to commercial space stations and deep space missions to the Moon and beyond. Its proven capabilities in cargo delivery, reboost operations, and adaptability to various launch vehicles position it as a critical asset in ongoing and future space endeavors. [Source: Northrop Grumman](https://www.northropgrumman.com/space/cygnus-spacecraft)