# Cygnus CRS Orb-3

> failed ISS resupply mission

**Wikidata**: [Q16820617](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16820617)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cygnus_Orb-3)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cygnus-crs-orb-3

## Summary
Cygnus CRS Orb-3 was a failed uncrewed cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS), launched on October 28, 2014. The mission ended in a catastrophic launch failure when the Antares rocket exploded seconds after liftoff from Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Launch Pad 0.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: October 28, 2014
- **Operator**: Orbital Sciences Corporation (now part of Northrop Grumman)
- **Launch Vehicle**: Antares rocket
- **Payload Mass**: 2,215 kg (payload only)
- **Mission Outcome**: Failed due to a launch vehicle explosion
- **Named After**: Deke Slayton, an American astronaut and one of the original Mercury Seven
- **Preceded By**: Cygnus CRS Orb-2 (third resupply mission)
- **Followed By**: Cygnus CRS OA-4 (fifth resupply mission)
- **Part of**: NASA's Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) program
- **Cause of Destruction**: Launch failure at 22:22:53 UTC, shortly after liftoff

## FAQs
### Q: What caused the failure of Cygnus CRS Orb-3?
A: The mission failed due to a catastrophic explosion of the Antares launch vehicle just seconds after liftoff on October 28, 2014. The failure occurred at 22:22:53 UTC.

### Q: What was the purpose of Cygnus CRS Orb-3?
A: The mission was intended to resupply the International Space Station (ISS) with cargo, including scientific experiments and crew supplies, as part of NASA's Commercial Resupply Services program.

### Q: Who operated the Cygnus CRS Orb-3 mission?
A: The mission was operated by Orbital Sciences Corporation, which later became part of Northrop Grumman.

### Q: What was the payload mass of Cygnus CRS Orb-3?
A: The payload mass for the mission was 2,215 kg, consisting of cargo destined for the ISS.

### Q: What was the mission named after?
A: The mission was named "S.S. Deke Slayton" in honor of Deke Slayton, a prominent American astronaut and one of the original Mercury Seven.

## Why It Matters
Cygnus CRS Orb-3 is significant as a notable failure in the history of commercial spaceflight, highlighting the risks and challenges of resupply missions to the ISS. The explosion of the Antares rocket shortly after liftoff underscored the importance of reliability in launch systems and led to investigations into the cause of the failure. This event also demonstrated the resilience of commercial space programs, as Orbital Sciences Corporation (now Northrop Grumman) continued to develop and improve its launch vehicles and spacecraft. The mission's failure had implications for the timeline of ISS resupply efforts, emphasizing the need for redundancy and backup plans in space logistics.

## Notable For
- **First Major Failure**: One of the first major failures in NASA's Commercial Resupply Services program.
- **Named After a Legend**: The mission was named "S.S. Deke Slayton" in honor of a pioneering astronaut.
- **High-Profile Incident**: The explosion was widely covered in media, bringing attention to the risks of spaceflight.
- **Impact on Future Missions**: The failure led to improvements in the Antares rocket and Cygnus spacecraft designs.
- **Part of a Larger Program**: A key mission in the ongoing effort to commercially resupply the ISS.

## Body
### Mission Overview
Cygnus CRS Orb-3 was the fourth planned cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station under NASA's Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract. The mission was operated by Orbital Sciences Corporation using its Cygnus spacecraft and Antares launch vehicle.

### Launch and Failure
- **Launch Date**: October 28, 2014
- **Launch Site**: Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Launch Pad 0
- **Outcome**: The Antares rocket exploded approximately 15 seconds after liftoff, resulting in the complete loss of the vehicle and its payload.
- **Time of Failure**: 22:22:53 UTC

### Spacecraft and Launch Vehicle
- **Spacecraft**: Cygnus (uncrewed cargo spacecraft)
- **Launch Vehicle**: Antares (produced by Orbital Sciences Corporation)
- **Payload Mass**: 2,215 kg (cargo for the ISS)

### Mission Context
- **Preceded By**: Cygnus CRS Orb-2 (third resupply mission)
- **Followed By**: Cygnus CRS OA-4 (fifth resupply mission)
- **Program**: Part of NASA's Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) program, which aims to deliver cargo to the ISS using commercial spacecraft.

### Naming and Honors
- **Named After**: Deke Slayton, an American astronaut and one of the original Mercury Seven. The mission was officially designated "S.S. Deke Slayton."

### Aftermath and Impact
The failure of Cygnus CRS Orb-3 led to a thorough investigation into the cause of the Antares rocket explosion. The incident highlighted the risks associated with spaceflight and the importance of reliability in launch systems. Orbital Sciences Corporation (now Northrop Grumman) made improvements to the Antares rocket and Cygnus spacecraft to prevent similar failures in future missions.

## Schema Markup
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  "name": "Cygnus CRS Orb-3",
  "description": "A failed uncrewed cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station, launched on October 28, 2014.",
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## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report