# Cygnus CRS OA-8E

> ninth cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station

**Wikidata**: [Q20857895](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q20857895)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cygnus_OA-8E)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cygnus-crs-oa-8e

## Summary
Cygnus CRS OA-8E (also designated Cygnus OA-8E or S.S. Gene Cernan) was the ninth Commercial Resupply Services cargo mission to the International Space Station using a Cygnus Enhanced spacecraft. Launched by an Antares rocket from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on 2017-11-12, it berthed to the ISS on 2017-11-14 and was later unberthed and disposed by atmospheric entry on 2017-12-18.

## Key Facts
- Mission designation: Cygnus CRS OA-8E (also Orbital ATK CRS-8E, Cygnus CRS Orb-8E, Orbital-8E, S.S. Gene Cernan; aliases include シグナス OA-8E).
- Role: Ninth cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station under Commercial Resupply Services.
- Spacecraft type: Cygnus Enhanced (instance of the Cygnus Enhanced class).
- Operator / launch contractor: Orbital ATK.
- Manufacturers: Orbital ATK and Thales Alenia Space.
- Launch vehicle: Antares (launched 2017-11-12 at 12:19:51 UTC).
- Launch site: Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, Launch Pad 0A.
- COSPAR ID / Satellite catalog: 2017-071A; SCN 43006.
- ISS berthing: berthed to the Unity module nadir port on 2017-11-14 at 12:15 UTC.
- Unberthing and disposal: unberthed from ISS on 2017-12-05 at 17:52 UTC; atmospheric entry / orbit decay circa 2017-12-18 at ~12:54 UTC.
- Named after: Eugene Cernan.

## FAQs
### Q: What was Cygnus CRS OA-8E?
A: Cygnus CRS OA-8E was an Orbital ATK-operated Cygnus Enhanced cargo spacecraft mission delivering supplies to the International Space Station as part of NASA's Commercial Resupply Services program.

### Q: When and from where did OA-8E launch?
A: OA-8E launched on 2017-11-12 at 12:19:51 UTC from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Launch Pad 0A aboard an Antares rocket.

### Q: When did OA-8E arrive at and depart from the ISS?
A: OA-8E berthed to the Unity module nadir port on 2017-11-14 at 12:15 UTC and was unberthed on 2017-12-05 at 17:52 UTC before reentering the atmosphere on 2017-12-18.

### Q: Who built and operated the spacecraft?
A: The spacecraft was manufactured by Orbital ATK and Thales Alenia Space and was operated and launched by Orbital ATK.

## Why It Matters
Cygnus CRS OA-8E played a concrete operational role in sustaining the International Space Station by delivering cargo and supplies under NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services contract. As the ninth operational Cygnus mission to the ISS, it continued the commercial partnership model that enables routine logistics support for long-duration crewed research in low Earth orbit. The mission demonstrated the integrated capabilities of the Cygnus Enhanced spacecraft and the Antares launch system to safely deliver, berth, and later remove disposable cargo from the ISS. By performing standard berthing, unberthing, and destructive reentry disposal, OA-8E contributed to station maintenance, science continuity, and the lifecycle testing of commercial cargo vehicles. Its naming after astronaut Eugene Cernan also continued the tradition of honoring notable figures in human spaceflight on resupply vehicles.

## Notable For
- It was the ninth Cygnus resupply mission to the ISS under NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services program.
- Flew a Cygnus Enhanced spacecraft built by Orbital ATK with contribution from Thales Alenia Space.
- Launched on an Antares rocket from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (Pad 0A) on 2017-11-12.
- Successfully berthed to the Unity module nadir port on 2017-11-14 and later unberthed on 2017-12-05 before destructive atmospheric entry on 2017-12-18.
- Named the S.S. Gene Cernan in honor of Eugene Cernan.

## Body

### Mission identity and classification
- Official names and aliases: Cygnus CRS OA-8E; Cygnus OA-8E; Orbital ATK CRS-8E; Cygnus CRS Orb-8E; Orbital-8E; S.S. Gene Cernan; シグナス OA-8E.
- Instance of: Cygnus Enhanced (a class of American uncrewed cargo spacecraft produced by Orbital Sciences/Northrop Grumman/Orbital ATK).

### Dates and catalog identifiers
- Launch date and time: 2017-11-12 at 12:19:51 UTC.
- COSPAR ID: 2017-071A.
- Satellite Catalog Number (SCN): 43006.
- Orbit decay / atmospheric entry: circa 2017-12-18 at approximately 12:54 UTC.

### Launch and operations
- Launch vehicle: Antares (as the launch vehicle for this mission).
- Launch site: Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, Launch Pad 0A.
- Launch contractor / mission operator: Orbital ATK.
- Manufacturer(s): Orbital ATK and Thales Alenia Space.
- Mission role: Cargo resupply to the International Space Station under the Commercial Resupply Services program.

### ISS rendezvous, berthing, and departure
- Berthing: Unity module, nadir port on the International Space Station on 2017-11-14 at 12:15 UTC.
- Unberthing: Departed Unity nadir on 2017-12-05 at 17:52 UTC.
- Final disposal: After unberthing, the spacecraft remained in orbit until atmospheric entry and destructive reentry circa 2017-12-18.

### Naming and heritage
- Named after astronaut Eugene Cernan; designation S.S. Gene Cernan.
- Preceded by: Cygnus CRS OA-7 (eighth CRS mission).
- Followed by: Cygnus CRS OA-9E (tenth CRS mission).

### Orbit
- Operated in low Earth orbit as a resupply spacecraft to the ISS.

## Schema Markup
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  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Cygnus CRS OA-8E",
  "description": "The ninth Commercial Resupply Services mission to the International Space Station using a Cygnus Enhanced cargo spacecraft, launched on 2017-11-12.",
  "sameAs": [
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## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. [Source](https://www.orbitalatk.com/news-room/feature-stories/OA8-Mission-Page/)
3. [Source](https://spaceflight101.com/cygnus-oa8/cygnus-cargo-spacecraft-installed-on-iss-for-critical-supplies-delivery/)
4. [Source](http://spaceflight101.com/cygnus-oa8/cygnus-oa-8-cargo-craft-departs-iss/)