Cargo ship reaches space station on resupply run

In this image made from video provided by NASA, Orbital ATK’s Cygnus cargo ship (top), approaches the International Space Station on March 26. The cargo carrier was launched from Cape Canaveral

on Tuesday. (AP) An unmanned cargo ship packed with science experiment materials plus food, water and clothes successfully docked at the International Space Station on Saturday, NASA partner Orbital ATK said. The cargo ship, Cygnus, which blasted off Tuesday on the resupply run, was carrying 7,900 pounds (3.6 metric tons) of supplies to the station for the ISS crew of six astronauts, as well as components to support dozens of science and research probes.

Cygnus was captured by the space station’s robotic arm, operated by crew members, and guided into its berthing port. The operation was over by 14:52 GMT. “Our flexible Cygnus spacecraft has a lot of work left to do. Following its stay at the ISS, and for the first time, we will undertake three experiments onboard the unmanned spacecraft,” said Frank Culbertson, president of Orbital ATK’s Space Systems Group.

The pressurized vessel will stay at the ISS until May. After loading it with trash and once it is at a safe distance from the station, NASA engineers will then set off a blaze inside the capsule to see how large flames behave in space. (AFP)