NASA and Northrop Grumman Launch 11,000 Pounds of Science and Cargo to ISS

NASA successfully launched its 24th commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station on April 11, 2026. Carrying approximately 11,000 pounds of cargo, the Northrop Grumman Cygnus XL spacecraft lifted off at 7:41 a.m. EDT atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. This mission, designated CRS-24, departed from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

The spacecraft, named the S.S. Steven R. Nagel, is transporting a diverse array of scientific investigations and crew supplies to support the current Expedition 74 crew. Key research includes a new module for the Cold Atom Lab to advance quantum science and help search for dark matter. Another critical project aims to improve blood stem cell production for treating cancers and blood diseases on Earth.

Arrival at the orbiting laboratory is scheduled for Monday, April 13. NASA astronauts Jack Hathaway and Chris Williams will use the station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm to capture the Cygnus vehicle at approximately 12:50 p.m. EDT. Once secured, the crew will begin the weeks-long process of unloading hardware designed to study the gut microbiome and enhance space weather modeling.

The mission also features a technology demonstration focused on cryogenic fuel control. These experiments are vital for future deep-space exploration, including NASA's Artemis campaign to return humans to the Moon. The Cygnus XL variant used for this flight provides a significant increase in pressurized volume compared to earlier models to maximize the delivery of these essential components.

This specific spacecraft honors late astronaut Steven R. Nagel, a veteran of four shuttle missions and a former commander of the Gamma Ray Observatory deployment. Cygnus is expected to remain attached to the station until October. At the end of its stay, it will perform a destructive re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere to safely dispose of station trash.