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Cygnus NG-24

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NG-24
NG Payload Module for NG-24 (KSC-20260223-PH-KLS01 0020).jpg
Technicians conduct prelaunch operations on the cargo module of the NG‑24 spacecraft
NamesCRS NG-24
Mission type ISS resupply
Operator Northrop Grumman
Mission duration6 months (planned)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftS.S. Steven R. Nagel
Spacecraft type Cygnus XL
Manufacturer
Start of mission
Launch dateNET April 8, 2026 12:51:00  UTC (8:51 am  EDT)
Rocket Falcon 9 Block 5 (B1094‑7)
Launch site Cape Canaveral, SLC‑40
Contractor SpaceX
End of mission
DisposalDeorbiting (planned)
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric orbit
Regime Low Earth orbit
Inclination 51.66°
Berthing at ISS
Berthing port Unity nadir
RMS captureApril 10, 2026, 05:15 UTC (planned)
Unberthing dateOctober 2026 (planned)
Cargo
Mass≈5,000 kg (11,000 lb) [1]
Cygnus NG-24 Patch.png
Mission patch

NG-24 is a planned cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS) under NASA's Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract. Operated by Northrop Grumman and flying aboard a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket, the flight is scheduled to launch no earlier than April 8, 2026. It is expected to depart from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40 during a launch window lasting from 8:42 to 9:02am on April 8. [2] [3]

Contents

The spacecraft is named the S.S. Steven R. Nagel . [4] Following NG-23, the mission is the second to use the Cygnus XL spacecraft configuration, featuring a pressurized cargo module measuring 7.89 meters (25.9 ft) in length, with a payload capacity of 5,000 kilograms (11,000 lb) and a pressurized cargo volume of 36 cubic metres (1,300 cu ft). [5]

It is expected to be the fourth and final Cygnus launch on a Falcon 9, arranged after Northrop Grumman's Antares 230+ was retired in 2023 due to supply chain disruptions stemming from the Russian invasion of Ukraine. [6] Cygnus NG-25, slated for late 2026, is planned to be the first Cygnus launch with the newly-developed Antares 330 rocket. [7]

Background

The Cygnus cargo spacecraft was developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation with partial funding from NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program. It pairs a pressurized cargo module built by Thales Alenia Space—derived from the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module used on the Space Shuttle—with a service module based on Orbital's GEOStar satellite bus.

The first Standard Cygnus flew in 2013, followed by the larger Enhanced Cygnus in 2015. Orbital Sciences became Orbital ATK in 2015 and was acquired by Northrop Grumman in 2018. Since then, Northrop Grumman has continued CRS operations. NG-24 is the twelfth Cygnus mission under the CRS-2 contract. [8]

Manifest

NASA reports that the mission includes approximately 11,000 pounds (5,000 kg) of cargo. In a press release, they highlighted several research projects being delivered to the ISS on this mission. These include a new module for the Cold Atom Laboratory, hardware and model organisms for biological research, and a radio receiver for observing the ionosphere. [1]

The mission will include bringing ClimCam (Climate Camera) to the ISS, to be attached to the Bartolomeo platform of the Columbus External Payload Facility. Developed by the Kenya Space Agency, the Egyptian Space Agency, and the Uganda national space program, the ClimCam Payload will be used for climate and weather observation in East Africa. [9]

Also included on the manifest is LEOPARDSat-1, a 1U CubeSat that will test the effectiveness of thin carbon sheeting to block radiation. It was developed by CubeCats, a student organization at the University of Cincinnati. It will be launched from the Nanoracks CubeSat Deployer on the ISS. [10] [11]

Mission

The Pressurized Cargo Module (PCM) was manufactured by Thales Alenia Space in Turin, Italy, and assembly of the service module for the NG-24 spacecraft took place at Northrop Grumman's facility in Dulles, Virginia. [8] Thales Alenia Space shared that the PCM had left their clean room bound for the Kennedy Space Center on January 30, 2026. [12]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Taveau, Jessica (April 3, 2026). "NASA Sets Coverage for Northrop Grumman's CRS-24 Resupply Launch". NASA. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  2. ↑ Tribou, Richard (April 2, 2026). "Space Coast launch schedule". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  3. ↑ Dodson, Gerelle Q. (March 6, 2026). "NASA Invites Media to Northrop Grumman CRS-24 Station Resupply Launch". NASA. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  4. ↑ "NASA Commercial Resupply Mission NG-24". Northrop Grumman. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  5. ↑ Foust, Jeff (August 3, 2023). "Northrop Grumman planning Cygnus upgrades". SpaceNews. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  6. ↑ "CRS NG-24 Mission". Next Spaceflight. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  7. ↑ Davenport, Justin (September 14, 2025). "SpaceX launches Cygnus XL to ISS on CRS NG-23 mission". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  8. 1 2 "Cygnus Spacecraft". Northrop Grumman. January 6, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  9. ↑ Gichigi, James (April 3, 2026). "ClimCam: Kenya, Egypt and Uganda's climate camera heads to space". The Star . Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  10. ↑ Weingartner, Tana (January 14, 2026). "NASA will soon send a satellite built by UC students into space". WVXU. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
  11. ↑ Barrier, Katherine (February 7, 2026). "University of Cincinnati students build satellite for NASA mission". Cincinnati CityBeat . Retrieved February 12, 2026.
  12. ↑ Thales Alenia Space [@Thales_Alenia_S] (January 30, 2026). "A step closer to the #SpaceStation: The NG-24 Cygnus Pressurized Cargo Module left our clean room in Turin and is on its way to the Kennedy Space Center, where Northrop Grumman will complete final preparations to make it ready for space. @NASA @thalesgroup @LDO_Space @ALTECSpace" (Tweet). Retrieved February 2, 2026– via X (formerly Twitter).
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