On August 4, 2024, Northrop Grumman Corporation successfully launched its Cygnus spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the NG-21 resupply mission. The spacecraft, named the S.S. Francis R. “Dick” Scobee, was carried into orbit by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This mission marks Northrop Grumman’s 21st resupply mission (NG-21) under NASA’s Commercial Resupply Service-2 (CRS-2) contract.
The NG-21 mission is delivering over 8,200 pounds of vital equipment, scientific experiments, and supplies to the crew aboard the ISS. This mission continues Northrop Grumman’s critical role in supporting life and research on the space station. Since 2023, the Cygnus spacecraft has provided six reboost services to the ISS, with potential for additional reboosts during this mission.
Ryan Tintner, vice president of civil space systems at Northrop Grumman, emphasized the significance of the NG-21 mission, stating, “Northrop Grumman is providing logistics technology that delivers differentiating capabilities—sustaining life and science research aboard the space station. NG-21 is another critical mission that builds on our longstanding support for NASA and the space station.”
In keeping with tradition, Northrop Grumman names each Cygnus spacecraft in honor of an individual who has made significant contributions to human spaceflight. The NG-21 mission honors Francis R. “Dick” Scobee, a NASA astronaut, U.S. Air Force pilot, and engineer who commanded the ill-fated 1986 space shuttle Challenger mission. Scobee had a distinguished career, including logging over 6,500 hours of flying time in 45 different aircraft and spending seven days in space as a pilot on the STS 41-C mission in 1984.
The Cygnus spacecraft for NG-21 incorporates several key technologies developed by Northrop Grumman, including UltraFlex solar arrays, spacecraft structures, propellant tanks, and loop heat pipe radiators for temperature control.
Northrop Grumman is a global leader in aerospace and defense technology, providing innovative solutions that enable customers to connect, protect, and explore. The company’s pioneering work in space logistics and exploration continues to push the boundaries of human achievement.
