Space station's robotic arm set for arrival of Cygnus cargo craft

The International Space Station's robotic arm, Canadarm2, is visible over Earth in this Nov. 27, 2015 photograph taken by one of the Expedition 45 crew members aboard the station.

On Dec. 6, Commander Scott Kelly and Flight Engineer Kjell Lindgren will operate the Canadarm2 from inside the station's cupola, using it for the rendezvous and grapple of Orbital ATK's Cygnus commercial cargo craft when it arrives at the station. Cygnus will be berthed to the Unity module. The cargo includes numerous experiments across an array of specialties along with some student-devised projects, as well as crew supplies including food, water and clothing.

Orbital ATK's Cygnus cargo mission is scheduled to launch on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket on Thursday, Dec. 3 at 5:55 p.m. EST from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.