January 10, 2014.
Ants, antibiotics, and a fleet of tiny satellites headed to the ISS following the successful launch of the Cygnus spacecraft on January 9 from Wallops, Virginia, USA at 1:07 am local time.. In addition to the fact that the event is already the fact that Signus first went on a mission to the ISS, it is also considered the beginning of the scientific and commercial exploitation of near-earth orbit. The ice is operated by the private company Orbital Science of Dallas, Virginia. In September last year, it became the second private company to send a spacecraft to dock with the ISS. Prior to this, only one company was engaged in such flights — SpaceX, which carries out regular flights to the ISS in order to replenish stocks..
Now, NASA has a choice between two private companies that offer their cargo delivery services. This means that the era of commercial competition for space has begun. Having only one carrier company is like having only one postal service. But now that there are already two companies, NASA says that it increases the possibilities..
Signus also carries a fleet of 28 small satellites from Planet Labs. Together they are called the Flock 1, and separately they are the CubeStats, each of which is only 10 centimeters in length. They will be launched into space from the ISS around the Earth. They will take photographs that will allow monitoring natural disasters and other situations on the planet. Clients have launched CubeStats from the ISS before, but they did not work as a group. Flock 1 will be the first satellite fleet to work together. It is also worth noting that this is the first commercial project of its kind in space launched from the ISS..
The network of private firms involved in the deployment of CubeSats demonstrates how the ISS is gradually growing its business. This is the beginning of an era of clear separation between public infrastructures (NASA) and commercial service providers..
Ants into space on Signus were also not sent in vain. This is made especially for kids. The project is called «Ants in Space» and children on earth will be able to watch how the behavior of ants will change in microgravity. Well, the antibiotics on board the Cygnus are designed to study their effectiveness in space. This project is designed to help heal astronauts.
