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Cygnus Xl

All articles tagged with #cygnus xl

Cosmic prank: ISS crew pull off optical illusion with Cygnus XL
space1 month ago

Cosmic prank: ISS crew pull off optical illusion with Cygnus XL

NASA astronauts Chris Williams and Jack Hathaway staged a lighthearted moment aboard the ISS on April 13, pretending Williams could 'hold' Northrop Grumman's Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft in an optical illusion from the Cupola while the two captured the vehicle with Canadarm2 after its Apr 11 launch. The Cygnus XL was delivering about 11,000 pounds of cargo and experiments to the station. The playful moment highlighted crew morale amid a high-profile cargo-ship capture and installation on the Earth-facing port.

Cygnus XL arrives at ISS with about 5 tons of science gear on CRS-24
space1 month ago

Cygnus XL arrives at ISS with about 5 tons of science gear on CRS-24

Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL cargo ship S.S. Steven R. Nagel was grappled by the ISS’s Canadarm2 at 1:20 p.m. EDT on April 13, 2026 and berthed to the Earth-facing port of Unity Node 1 to unload roughly 11,000 pounds (about 5 metric tons) of cargo for Expedition 74. The payload includes quantum science hardware to probe dark matter, equipment to advance stem cell production, a gut microbiome study, and a receiver to help protect GPS/radar systems from space weather. Launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 on April 11, this CRS-24 mission will keep the Cygnus XL attached until October.

Cygnus XL Delivers 5-Ton Payload to ISS on SpaceX NG-24 Mission
space1 month ago

Cygnus XL Delivers 5-Ton Payload to ISS on SpaceX NG-24 Mission

SpaceX launched Northrop Grumman's Cygnus XL cargo ship NG-24 atop a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral, delivering about 11,000 pounds (4,990 kg) of science gear and supplies to the International Space Station. The Cygnus XL, named S.S. Steven R. Nagel, will be grappled by Canadarm2 on April 13, marking the second Cygnus XL flight, while the booster returned to a Cape Canaveral landing about eight minutes after liftoff.

Cygnus XL departs ISS after first cargo mission, heading for fiery re-entry
science2 months ago

Cygnus XL departs ISS after first cargo mission, heading for fiery re-entry

Northrop Grumman's Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft — the S.S. Willie "Willie" McCool — left the International Space Station on March 12, after a nearly six-month stay delivering about 11,000 pounds of science gear and supplies. Detaching from Unity, Canadarm2 released Cygnus at 7:06 a.m. EST, and the freighter will deorbit to burn up in Earth’s atmosphere, joining the ISS cargo fleet alongside SpaceX’s Dragon, Russia’s Progress, and JAXA’s HTV-X.

space8 months ago

Northrop Grumman's Cargo Ship Successfully Resupplies ISS After Software Fix

Northrop Grumman's Cygnus XL cargo ship successfully rendezvoused and was captured by the International Space Station after a software adjustment delay, delivering over 5 tons of supplies, research materials, and spare parts, including holiday treats for the crew. The mission marked the maiden flight of an upgraded, longer version of the spacecraft, named after astronaut Willie McCool, and highlights the importance of cargo resupply missions for station operations.

Northrop Grumman's Cygnus Cargo Ship Debuts at ISS Amid Technical Challenges
space8 months ago

Northrop Grumman's Cygnus Cargo Ship Debuts at ISS Amid Technical Challenges

Northrop Grumman's new Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft successfully arrived at the ISS on its debut mission, carrying over 11,000 pounds of supplies and named in honor of astronaut William 'Willie' McCool, despite a one-day delay caused by thruster issues. This mission marks the first Cygnus delivery in over a year and features the spacecraft's increased cargo capacity.

Cygnus XL Cargo Ship Encounters Engine Issue En Route to ISS
space8 months ago

Cygnus XL Cargo Ship Encounters Engine Issue En Route to ISS

Northrop Grumman's Cygnus XL cargo ship experienced two premature engine shutdowns during its approach to the International Space Station, causing a delay in its scheduled rendezvous while engineers work on an alternative plan. The spacecraft, launched by SpaceX's Falcon 9, was carrying over 11,000 pounds of supplies, but the issue has not yet been resolved.