Main Engine Cut Off

Orbital ATK posted a video over on YouTube showing their ideas for placing Cygnus-derived habitats in lunar orbit, and using them as the base for SLS-Orion missions throughout the 2020s. It also hints at the station staying there beyond the initial missions and supporting European (or other international) missions to the lunar surface.

As I’ve talked about in the past, this is a pretty compelling use of Cygnus—both technically and politically—and they’re going to be pushing it hard over the next year or two. Presidential elections in the US bring about transitions and decisions on the future, and Orbital ATK is going to want to position a Cygnus-derived lunar orbit station as the way forward for NASA’s 2020 roadmap.