Cygnus NG-18 Fails To Deploy Second Solar Array!

Written By Josh G for Onkla

The Cygnus NG-18 Spacecraft launched atop an Antares 230+ launch vehicle from the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on November 7, 2022 at 5:32am EST. The launch occured nominally with a slightly unplanned second stage manuever just after stage separation. However, the spacecraft was placed into a nominal orbit at second engine burnout.

Antares NG-18 Launch from LP-0A, Wallops // Photo: SpaceFlight Now

The Cygnus NG-18 spacecraft successfully deployed a single solar array, however, the second array did not deploy. The public does not know why this happened, but we expect to know in the upcoming days. The spacecraft is still clear to berth to the International Space Station on Wednesday morning, November 9, 2022 at 5:05am EST.

Cygnus NG-17 Departing The ISS // Photo: NASA + Northrup Grumman

The Cygnus spacecraft is expected to stay at the station for a few weeks before detaching, and burning up in earths atmosphere. That is when the mission is expected to end. There is no targetted date for this re-entry at the moment.