Cygnus XL Cargo Spacecraft Docks with ISS
Summary: On April 13, 2026, Northrop Grumman's second Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft successfully docked with the International Space Station after a three-day chase. The NG-24 mission delivered approximately 5,800 pounds (2,630 kg) of supplies, scientific experiment equipment, and food provisions to the station, including critical hardware for upgrading the cold atom experiments.
Mission Overview
The Cygnus XL spacecraft launched on April 10 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral. This was the second flight of Northrop Grumman's enhanced Cygnus XL variant, which offers approximately 33% more mass delivery capability compared to the previous version.
During the docking procedure, NASA astronaut Jack Hathaway commanded the Canadarm2 robotic arm to capture the spacecraft, with fellow NASA astronaut Chris Williams monitoring the arrival data. The actual capture occurred approximately 30 minutes later than originally planned to allow teams to ensure good data agreement.
Supplies and Scientific Payloads
The mission delivered:
- Cold Atom Experiment Upgrade Hardware: SHREC (Supplemental Heat Rejection Evaporative Cooler) cooling system, providing backup cooling for station avionics and critical systems
- Food Supplies: Fresh items including hummus, apples, blueberries, oranges, and baby carrots, along with shelf-stable items like almond butters, coffee, tea, nutrition bars, and dark chocolate
- Scientific Equipment: Hardware to upgrade the station's cold atom experiments, which NASA ISS Deputy Chief Scientist Dr. Liz Warren called "the coldest place in the universe"
Falcon 9 Booster Recovery
The mission used a Falcon 9 first stage booster with tail number B1094, flying for its seventh time. Approximately eight minutes after liftoff, the booster successfully landed at SpaceX's Landing Zone 40 (LZ40) adjacent to the launch pad—this was only the second time SpaceX used the new landing site.
Future Antares and Eclipse Plans
Northrop Grumman plans to gradually transition to the Antares 330 rocket (featuring Firefly Aerospace's first stage) following the retirement of the Antares 230+ in August 2023. After three Antares 330 flights, Northrop Grumman and Firefly will transition to a new medium-lift launch vehicle called Eclipse, expected to feature a reusable first stage.