NASA's Northrop Grumman CRS-24 Mission to Deliver 11,000 Pounds of Cargo to ISS

The Cygnus XL spacecraft will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and carry scientific investigations and supplies to the orbiting laboratory.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 5:54am

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A bold, highly structured abstract painting in soft, earthy tones featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise spirals, conceptually representing the Cygnus spacecraft's journey to the International Space Station.An abstract illustration captures the precision and complexity of NASA's Northrop Grumman CRS-24 resupply mission to the International Space Station.Cape Canaveral Today

NASA's Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 24 mission, or Northrop Grumman CRS-24, will deliver approximately 11,000 pounds of science and supplies to the International Space Station. This mission will be the second flight of the Cygnus XL, the larger, more cargo-capable version of the company's solar-powered spacecraft.

Why it matters

The CRS-24 mission will deliver a range of scientific investigations to the ISS that advance knowledge and technology in support of the Artemis program, including research on quantum physics, stem cell production, and the impact of spaceflight on the human microbiome. The mission will also provide critical supplies and equipment for the crew.

The details

The Cygnus XL will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Following arrival, astronauts aboard the space station will use the Canadarm2 to grapple Cygnus XL before robotically installing the spacecraft to the Unity module's Earth-facing port for cargo unloading. The Cygnus XL is named in honor of NASA astronaut Steven Nagel, a veteran of four space flights.

  • The Northrop Grumman CRS-24 mission will launch from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
  • NASA astronauts Jack Hathaway and Chris Williams will be on duty during the Cygnus spacecraft's approach and rendezvous.

The players

Northrop Grumman

The company that operates the Cygnus spacecraft for NASA's Commercial Resupply Services program.

Steven Nagel

A NASA astronaut who flew on four space shuttle missions and is being honored by having the Cygnus spacecraft named after him.

Jack Hathaway

A NASA astronaut who will be at the controls of the Canadarm2 robotic arm to capture the Cygnus spacecraft.

Chris Williams

A NASA astronaut who will monitor the Cygnus spacecraft's arrival at the International Space Station.

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The takeaway

The CRS-24 mission is a critical resupply flight that will deliver important scientific investigations and supplies to support the crew and research aboard the International Space Station, furthering NASA's Artemis program goals.