# Cygnus CRS OA-5

> seventh cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station

**Wikidata**: [Q16820629](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16820629)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cygnus_OA-5)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cygnus-crs-oa-5

## Summary  
Cygnus CRS OA‑5 (also known as S.S. Alan Poindexter) was the seventh United States‑operated cargo resupply flight to the International Space Station. Launched on 17 October 2016 aboard an Antares 6 rocket from the Mid‑Atlantic Regional Spaceport, the Cygnus Enhanced spacecraft delivered over 2 t of pressurized and unpressurized cargo and remained docked to the ISS for 41 days before re‑entering Earth’s atmosphere on 27 November 2016.

## Key Facts  
- **Mission designation:** Cygnus CRS OA‑5, also called S.S. Alan Poindexter, Orbital‑5, OA‑5, Orbital Sciences CRS Flight 5.  
- **Launch date & time:** 17 Oct 2016, 23:45:40 UTC, from Mid‑Atlantic Regional Spaceport Launch Pad 0A.  
- **Launch vehicle:** Antares 6 (flight 6) provided by Northrop Grumman.  
- **Spacecraft class:** Cygnus Enhanced, built by Orbital ATK and Thales Alenia Space.  
- **Launch mass:** 6 172 kg (launch weight).  
- **Payload delivered:** 2 342 kg of pressurized cargo and 83 kg of unpressurized cargo (total ≈ 2 425 kg).  
- **Mission duration:** 3 541 860 seconds (≈ 41 days) from launch to atmospheric entry.  
- **Orbital inclination:** 51.6° (low‑Earth orbit).  
- **Key mission events:**  
  - **Berthing to ISS:** 23 Oct 2016, 14:53 UTC at the Unity node (nadir side).  
  - **Unberthing from ISS:** 21 Nov 2016, 11:25 UTC.  
  - **Atmospheric entry & decay:** 27 Nov 2016, 23:36 UTC.  
- **Operator:** Orbital ATK (now part of Northrop Grumman).  
- **Part of:** NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) program; follows Cygnus CRS OA‑6 and precedes Cygnus CRS OA‑7.  

## FAQs  
### Q: What was the primary purpose of Cygnus CRS OA‑5?  
A: It was a cargo resupply mission that delivered scientific equipment, crew supplies, and hardware to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services contract.  

### Q: When and how was Cygnus CRS OA‑5 launched?  
A: The spacecraft launched on 17 October 2016 at 23:45:40 UTC aboard an Antares 6 rocket from Launch Pad 0A at the Mid‑Atlantic Regional Spaceport.  

### Q: How much cargo did Cygnus CRS OA‑5 carry?  
A: OA‑5 transported 2 342 kg of pressurized cargo and 83 kg of unpressurized cargo, totaling roughly 2 425 kg of supplies and experiments.  

### Q: How long did Cygnus CRS OA‑5 stay attached to the ISS?  
A: The vehicle was berthed to the Unity node on 23 October 2016 and remained attached until 21 November 2016, a stay of about 29 days, after which it was unberthed and later de‑orbited.  

### Q: Why is the spacecraft named “S.S. Alan Poindexter”?  
A: It was named in honor of astronaut Alan G. Poindexter, a former Orbital Sciences test pilot who flew on Space Shuttle missions and later served as a senior executive at Orbital ATK.  

## Why It Matters  
Cygnus CRS OA‑5 exemplifies the growing role of commercial partners in sustaining the International Space Station’s operations. By delivering over two metric tonnes of essential supplies, scientific payloads, and hardware, the mission helped maintain continuous human presence in low‑Earth orbit and enabled a wide range of research—from microgravity biology to Earth observation. The flight also demonstrated the reliability of the Antares launch system and the Cygnus Enhanced spacecraft, reinforcing confidence in the Commercial Resupply Services framework that reduces reliance on government‑only launch capabilities. Moreover, naming the vehicle after astronaut Alan Poindexter highlighted the human legacy behind commercial spaceflight, linking past NASA achievements with the emerging private‑sector ecosystem. Collectively, OA‑5’s successful execution contributed to the seamless logistics chain that underpins international cooperation, scientific discovery, and the long‑term viability of orbital habitats.  

## Notable For  
- First Cygnus mission named after an astronaut (Alan G. Poindexter).  
- Utilized the Antares 6 launch vehicle, marking the sixth flight of the Antares family.  
- Delivered the largest combined pressurized and unpressurized cargo payload for a single CRS flight at that time (≈ 2 425 kg).  
- Completed a full mission cycle—launch, ISS berthing, cargo transfer, unberthing, and controlled atmospheric re‑entry—within a 41‑day window.  
- Served as a key link in the CRS‑2 program, demonstrating the sustainability of commercial cargo services for the ISS.  

## Body  

### Overview  
Cygnus CRS OA‑5 (S.S. Alan Poindexter) was the seventh flight of the Cygnus Enhanced cargo spacecraft, part of NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract with Orbital ATK (now Northrop Grumman). The mission’s primary objective was to transport pressurized and unpressurized supplies to the International Space Station (ISS) and return waste for disposal via atmospheric re‑entry.

### Launch Details  
- **Date & Time:** 17 Oct 2016, 23:45:40 UTC.  
- **Launch Site:** Mid‑Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS), Launch Pad 0A, Virginia, USA.  
- **Vehicle:** Antares 6 rocket (flight 6), produced by Northrop Grumman.  
- **Contractor:** Orbital ATK served as the launch contractor and mission operator.  

### Spacecraft Specifications  
- **Class:** Cygnus Enhanced (derived from the original Cygnus design).  
- **Manufacturer:** Orbital ATK (primary) and Thales Alenia Space (pressurized module).  
- **Launch Mass:** 6 172 kg (launch weight).  
- **Payload Capacity:**  
  - Pressurized cargo: 2 342 kg.  
  - Unpressurized cargo: 83 kg.  
- **Orbital Parameters:** Low‑Earth orbit with an inclination of 51.6°.  

### Mission Timeline  
| Event | Date | Time (UTC) | Location / Details |
|------|------|------------|--------------------|
| Launch | 17 Oct 2016 | 23:45:40 | MARS Pad 0A, Antares 6 |
| Berthing to ISS | 23 Oct 2016 | 14:53 | Unity node, nadir side |
| Cargo Transfer | 23 Oct – 21 Nov 2016 | — | Pressurized & unpressurized items delivered |
| Unberthing | 21 Nov 2016 | 11:25 | Unity node, nadir side |
| Atmospheric Entry & Decay | 27 Nov 2016 | 23:36 | Controlled re‑entry over Pacific Ocean |

### Payload Highlights  
- Scientific experiments for microgravity research.  
- Crew provisions (food, clothing, personal items).  
- Replacement hardware for ISS systems.  
- Unpressurized payloads for external platform experiments.  

### Operators & Partnerships  
- **Operator:** Orbital ATK (now part of Northrop Grumman).  
- **Launch Contractor:** Orbital ATK.  
- **International Collaboration:** Payloads and hardware supplied by NASA, ESA, JAXA, and other partner agencies.  

### Legacy & Impact  
Cygnus OA‑5 reinforced the viability of commercial cargo delivery to the ISS, paving the way for subsequent CRS‑2 missions. Its successful execution demonstrated the robustness of the Antares‑Cygnus system and contributed valuable data on long‑duration cargo operations, waste disposal, and re‑entry dynamics. The mission’s naming after Alan Poindexter also underscored the human element behind commercial spaceflight, honoring a legacy of astronautical achievement while inspiring future collaborations between government and industry.  

## Schema Markup  
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  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Cygnus CRS OA-5",
  "description": "Seventh cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station, launched on 17 October 2016 aboard an Antares rocket.",
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## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. [Source](https://planet4589.org/space/jsr/back/news.732.txt)
3. [Source](https://planet4589.org/space/jsr/back/news.731.txt)