RNASA Honors Draper Cygnus Work

CAMBRIDGE, MA-- The Rotary National Award for Space Achievement (RNASA) honored Draper Laboratory’s Cygnus guidance, navigation and targeting team for the development of software that enables the Cygnus spacecraft to rendezvous and dock with the International Space Station with a 2014 Stellar award in the team category.

Draper developed the guidance, navigation and targeting software, and provided fault tolerant computer support for Cygnus, which is built by Orbital Sciences Corp. of Dulles, Va., as part of NASA’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) effort. Cygnus successfully delivered cargo to the ISS crew for the first time on Jan. 12. Cygnus also successfully conducted a demonstration mission to the ISS in September.

“This accomplishment continues our deep heritage in rendezvous and is a great example of how we transition advanced technology to strengthen the Nation's commercial industry,” said Séamus Tuohy, Draper’s director of space systems.

RNASA, which is based in Houston, Texas, honors individuals and teams from the government, military, and industry based on the potential that the honorees’ work holds for advancing future activities in space. The Space Center Rotary Club established RNASA in 1985 in order to recognize outstanding achievements in space and promote the benefits of space exploration.