On January 23, 2014 at 9:33 p.m. EST, the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket blasted NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-L) to Earth orbit. Built by Boeing Space Systems, the TDRS-L satellite’s mission is to provide high-data-rate communications between earth ground stations, the International Space Station (ISS) and Hubble Space Telescope.
VACCO Industries supplied 11 Metal Mesh Filters to the ULA Atlas V Launch Vehicle, which illuminated clear Florida skies for hundreds of miles during its nighttime lift off at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
VACCO also supplied 50 Latch Valves, Etched Disc Filters, Check Valves, and Fill & Drain valves to Boeing to build the TDRS-L Satellite for NASA. The huge satellite is now safely in orbit.
On January 20, 2014, the European Space Agency’s Rosetta comet-chaser spacecraft tweeted “Hello, world!” in several languages. The preprogrammed message notified scientists at ESA mission control center in Darmstadt, Germany, that Rosetta is awake after a 2 ½ year sleep induced to save energy.
With recharged energy systems, the spacecraft will continue its mission of studying comets in detail. Rosetta, which has VACCO Etched Disc Filters aboard, will rendezvous with the 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko comet in August.
Cygnus spacecraft arrived without issue at International Space Station (ISS) Sunday, January 12, 2014 after Orbital’s Antares rocket successfully launched the unmanned capsule into space Thursday, January 9, 2014.
Astronauts aboard the Station used its robotic arm to capture and attach Cygnus to ISS. The 38 crew members were slated to begin unloading 2,780 pounds of supplies after the hatch opening, which was scheduled for Monday morning. Supplies included vital science experiments, crew provisions, spare parts, and other hardware.
VACCO is proud to have the following hardware components on board Cygnus:
On Thursday, January 9, 2014, Orbital’s Antares rocket successfully launched the unmanned Cygnus capsule toward International Space Station (ISS) beginning its first Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) mission.
Cygnus will deliver about 2,780 pounds of cargo to the Expedition 38 astronauts and remain attached to the station until February 18th before departing with approximately 2,800 pounds of disposable cargo for a safe, destructive reentry over the Pacific Ocean. This CRS Orb1-mission follows the successful demonstration flight, Orb-D1, which was launched September 18, 2013, and ended October 22, 2013.
VACCO is proud to have several hardware components on board Cygnus:
