Cygnus OA-4 Mission to ISS

The new enhanced Cygnus commercial freighter was successfully launched by ULA’s Atlas V on Dec 6, 2015 from Cape Canaveral to restart cargo deliveries to the ISS. Orbital ATK’s owned resupply ship is an enhanced version with new lighter and circular solar arrays, the Ultraflex solar arrays. For this mission, the new Cygnus was dubbed the “SS Deke Slayton II” as a tribute to the late Mercury 7 astronaut.

For this presentation I designed the Atlas V in 401 configuration in 1:96 scale with the Extended EPF shroud depicting the Cygnus OA-4 logo. The Enhanced Cygnus cargoship is in 1:100 scale to match the ISS paper model. The first pictures on this post shows the Cygnus prototype model with the incorrect color for the solar arrays supports. After reviewing actual photos of Cygnus while approaching the ISS, it became clear the details of the solar arrays supports and their color.

This is a comparison of the new enhanced Cygnus with the standard version. Note the different solar arrays and the location of the Grapple Fixture on the underside of the cargoship. On the left is the Enhanced Cygnus with the Ultraflex solar arrays. The Grapple fixture is forward to the engine nozzle. This is in order for the Space Station Robotic Arm to grapple it and berthed it to the Unity module which would be aft to the robotic arm during this type of operation.
On the right is the Standard version. The Grapple Fixture is aft to the engine nozzle because the Standard Cygnus was always berthed to the Harmony module. In this case, the Robotic arm’s location was always aft to Harmony.

Here is a comparison of both versions showing the increased cargo area for the Enhanced Cygnus (left).

The Ultraflex solar array unfolds in a circle like a chinese fan. Here is a closeup of the new solar arrays for this model.

This diagram shows the deployment of the Ultraflex solar array.

The Enhanced Cygnus is being berthed to the Unity module by the Robotic Arm.

Here is a closeup of the underside of the beautiful Ultraflex solar arrays.

A view from the port side of the ISS showing Cygnus berthed to Unity in close proximity with the Soyuz TMA-17M.

ISS configuration at the time of Cygnus OA-4 berthing. The Cygnus OA-4 will remain attached to the station through the end of January 2016.

Source: Spaceflightnow.com

Download files:
axmatlasv_oa-496 AXMAtlasV OA-4 1:96 scale
AXMCygnusOA-41100 Cygnus OA-4 1:100 scale

Instruction Manual:
AXM Cygnus OA-4 manual – PDFOptim