NASA Gears Up for 21st ISS Resupply Mission

The effort aboard a Northrop Grumman Cygnus capsule is expected to launch Saturday at 11:28 a.m. EDT.

Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at 02:31 PM ET

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Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus uncrewed cargo spacecraft is expected to make its 21st flight for NASA this weekend. [Courtesy: NASA]

Key Takeaways:

NASA's Cygnus NG-21 mission is scheduled to launch this weekend, delivering a wide variety of cargo to the International Space Station (ISS).
The uncrewed Cygnus capsule will carry over 8,200 pounds of supplies, including microorganisms, stem cell-printing machines, and materials for various scientific experiments.
This 21st commercial resupply mission will launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and will dock with the ISS for approximately six months before deorbiting.

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A NASA mission to deliver a wide variety of cargo to be used in experiments aboard the International Space Station (ISS)—including microorganisms, stem cell-printing machines, and even balloons— is scheduled to take off this weekend.

The mission, Cygnus NG-21, is the space agency’s 21st commercial ISS resupply mission using the uncrewed Cygnus capsule built by contractor Northrop Grumman, which took over the spacecraft’s development after acquiring manufacturer Orbital ATK in 2018.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.