The Cygnus space freighter docked at the space station to deliver new space toilets, science experiments and supplies

Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus space freighter is open to the public just five hours after it was attached to the International Space Station today. The Expedition 63 crew will now begin unloading nearly 8,000 pounds of scientific research, technology demonstrations, commercial products, crew supplies, and an advanced space bath.

The Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft bolted into place in the Earth-facing port of the International Space Station of the Unity module at 8:01 a.m. EDT as the spacecraft flew about 261 miles above the South Pacific Ocean. Cygnus will remain on the space station until his departure in mid-December. After departure, the Saffire-V experiment will take place before Cygnus desorbits and removes several tons of garbage during a fiery re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere about two weeks later.

After standard depressurization and setup activities, Commander Chris Cassidy opened the hatch for Cygnus. You entered the cargo vessel wearing goggles and a mask to protect against potential dust and debris, which is normal procedure when entering a docked cargo ship for the first time. The US resupply ship will remain connected to the Unity module until mid-December, when it completes its cargo mission.

Cassidy and flight engineer Ivan Vagner spent Monday morning monitoring the approach and encounter of Cygnus after its launch on Friday night. At 5:32 a.m. EDT, Expedition 63 Commander Chris Cassidy from POT used the robotic Canadarm2 of the International Space Station to grab the Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft while Ivan Vagner of Roscosmos monitored the Cygnus systems during its approach. The ground controllers then took over the Canadarm2 and remotely installed Cygnus, nicknamed SS Kalpana Chawla, at the bottom of the station’s Unity module about an hour and a half later.

The Cygnus spacecraft for this resupply mission is named after Kalpana Chawla, who made NASA history as the first female astronaut of Indian descent. Chawla, who dedicated her life to understanding flight dynamics, lost her life during the STS-107 mission when the space shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon re-entering Earth’s atmosphere.

Later, Vagner teamed up with fellow cosmonaut and flight engineer Anatoly Ivanishin for medical tests while wearing the lower-body negative pressure suit. The specialized suit prevents blood from pooling towards a crew member’s head, a common spatial symptom called a “swollen face,” which can cause pressure on the head and vision problems. The duo also worked on a variety of Russian scientific and maintenance assignments today.