Cape Canaveral, FL – August 4, 2024 — Northrop Grumman’s 21st Cygnus resupply mission, NG-21, began its journey to the International Space Station (ISS) on August 4, 2024, from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The mission, launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, suffered a delay of about 24 hours caused by adverse weather conditions from Tropical Storm Debby as it moved up the Florida peninsula. Cygnus is part of NASA’s Commercial Resupply Service (CRS), responsible for maintaining the vital flow of supplies and scientific experiments to the ISS.
Smooth Launch, Then Initial Complications
The liftoff occurred without issue with the SpaceX Falcon 9 carrying the Cygnus spacecraft S.S. Francis R. “Dick” Scobee. The Cygnus was successfully deployed from the Falcon 9’s upper stage once the spacecraft reached orbit. Shortly after separation, Cygnus encountered issues with its first two scheduled engine burns, critical for setting its trajectory towards the ISS. The scheduled burns were not performed due to low initial pressure readings, a problem later solved by ground controllers. Despite the engine issue, the spacecraft’s solar arrays were successfully deployed approximately three hours post-launch, ensuring the spacecraft maintained necessary power.
Mid-Mission Recovery and New Burn Plan
Mission control worked diligently to reassess and develop a new burn plan. Engineers at Northrop Grumman confirmed that the engines were still operational and implemented a revised burn sequence. These efforts ensured that Cygnus could maintain its scheduled arrival at the ISS. The spacecraft performed subsequent burns successfully, aligning its trajectory for the planned capture.
Arrival and Capture at the ISS
Cygnus NG-21 reached the ISS on August 6, 2024. The spacecraft was captured by the ISS’s Canadarm2 robotic arm, operated by NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick, at 3:11 AM EDT as the station orbited over the South Atlantic Ocean. The capture was followed by a berthing to the Unity module’s nadir port at 5:33 AM EDT. This docking brought over 8,200 pounds (3,720 kg) of crucial supplies and scientific equipment to the ISS.
Cygnus cargo spacecraft captured by the ISS. Credit: NASA
Scientific Payload and Mission Goals
“The Cygnus spacecraft is crucial for ensuring NASA and the ISS National Lab can maximize our low Earth orbit research capabilities,” stated Dr. Michael Roberts, Chief Scientific Officer of the ISS National Lab. “Cygnus has delivered hundreds of research projects to the orbiting laboratory over the years, significantly contributing to space-based research and technology development that benefit our planet.”
“We’re excited to collaborate with the Northrop Grumman team as we continue to push the boundaries of research and innovation in space,” added Dr. Roberts.
For more detailed information and updates on the Cygnus NG-21 mission, you can visit NASA, Northrop Grumman, and SpaceX’s official channels.
