In a uncommon flip of occasions for what’s often such a dependable car, NASA is presently assessing the situation of a Cygnus spacecraft that’s solely managed to deploy one in all its two photo voltaic arrays because it heads to the International Space Station (ISS) on a provide mission.

The spacecraft’s maker, Northrop Grumman, believes it’s protected for the Cygnus to dock with the ISS, however NASA has opted to discover the scenario additional earlier than making a last resolution on whether or not to carry out the maneuver early on Wednesday, as initially deliberate.

Following a launch delay as a result of a hearth alarm on the management middle, the Cygnus NG-18 spacecraft launched aboard an Antares rocket from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia early on Monday morning.

As ordinary with this workhorse spacecraft, the Cygnus ought to’ve deployed its two round photo voltaic arrays, which assist to energy the car, round three hours after leaving the launchpad. But on this event one thing went awry.

It’s not presently clear why the second photo voltaic array didn’t deploy within the ordinary manner. Engineers on the bottom try to work out if the deployment can nonetheless be safely executed, although if it could’t, Northrop Grumman believes docking the spacecraft with the ISS will nonetheless be attainable. NASA, nevertheless, is anxious that the situation of the spacecraft may trigger a difficulty on the level of docking, probably creating additional issues for the Cygnus and even the area station itself.

“After launching earlier today, November 7, Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus cargo spacecraft has successfully deployed one of its two solar arrays,” NASA stated in a message shared on its web site on Monday.

It continued: “Northrop Grumman is gathering data on the second array deployment and is working closely with NASA. Northrop Grumman has reported to NASA that Cygnus has sufficient power to rendezvous with the ISS on Wednesday, November 9, to complete its primary mission, and NASA is assessing this and the configuration required for capture and berthing.”

Cygnus has up to now been on 17 profitable missions to the ISS because the first one in 2013. Only one time has it failed to achieve the orbital outpost, however that was as a result of a catastrophic rocket failure shortly after a launch in 2013.

The Cygnus NG-18 spacecraft — this one named Sally Ride in honor of the American spaceflight pioneer — is carrying greater than 8,000 kilos of provides for the crew, together with the standard haul of scientific experiments for finishing up within the station’s microgravity circumstances. With a lot on board, you cane be sure NASA and Northrop Grumman are working tirelessly to make sure the docking can happen with none subject.

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