{"id":400840,"date":"2026-04-07T05:29:22","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T19:29:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?p=981472"},"modified":"2026-04-07T05:29:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T19:29:22","slug":"nasas-northrop-grumman-crs-24-mission-overview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=400840","title":{"rendered":"NASA\u2019s Northrop Grumman CRS-24\u00a0Mission Overview\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

NASA\u2019s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 24 mission, or Northrop Grumman CRS-24, will deliver approximately 11,000 pounds of science and supplies to the International Space Station. This mission will be the second flight of the Cygnus XL, the larger, more cargo-capable version of the company\u2019s solar-powered spacecraft. <\/p>\n

The Cygnus XL will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Following arrival, astronauts aboard the space station will use the Canadarm2 to grapple Cygnus XL before robotically installing the spacecraft to the Unity module\u2019s Earth-facing port for cargo unloading. <\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\"NASA\u2019s<\/a><\/figure>
\n
NASA\u2019s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 24 mission will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to deliver research and supplies to the International Space Station. <\/div>\n
NASA<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\"NASA\u2019s<\/a><\/figure>
\n
NASA\u2019s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 24 mission will deliver more than 11,000 pounds of research and supplies to the International Space Station. <\/div>\n
NASA<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\"NASA\u2019s<\/a><\/figure>
\n
NASA\u2019s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Mission 24 will launch from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. <\/div>\n
NASA<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\"NASA\u2019s<\/a><\/figure>
\n
NASA\u2019s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 24 spacecraft is named in honor of NASA astronaut Steven Nagel. Selected by NASA in 1979, Nagel is a veteran of four space flights (STS-51G and STS-61AA in 1985, STS37 in 1991, and STS-55 in 1993) and has logged more than 723 hours in space. Nagel died in 2014. <\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\"NASA<\/a><\/figure>
\n
NASA astronauts Jack Hathaway and Chris Williams will be on duty during the Cygnus spacecraft\u2019s approach and rendezvous. Hathaway will be at the controls of the Canadarm2 robotic arm ready to capture Cygnus as Williams monitors the spacecraft\u2019s arrival.<\/div>\n
NASA<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Science Highlights<\/strong> <\/h2>\n

Along with supplies and equipment for the crew, Cygnus XL will deliver a range of scientific investigations to the International Space Station that helps to advance knowledge and technology in support of the Artemis program. This research includes:  <\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\"A<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A new module for the Cold Atom Lab<\/a> to expand its research capabilities and improve our understanding of general relativity, planetary composition, and dark matter. The Cold Atom Lab advances quantum research to improve technologies, such as solar cells, MRI scanners, and components that power phones and computers. <\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\"An<\/a><\/figure>
\n
NASA<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

An investigation (InSPA-StemCellEX-H2<\/a>) studying blood stem cell production in microgravity to create a larger number of therapeutic cells. Successful stem cell production could advance healthcare on Earth for patients with certain blood diseases and cancers.  <\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\"An<\/a><\/figure>
\n
NASA<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

An investigation (Nanoracks-ITSI<\/a>) that measures how radio signals sent from Earth change as they pass through the upper atmosphere. These measurements could improve models that predict the impacts of solar activity and space weather, which can disrupt technologies like GPS navigation and radar tracking systems.  <\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\"A<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A study (CBIOMES<\/a>) of how spaceflight impacts the relationship between organisms and their gut microbiome. Researchers will observe changes in roundworms down to the cellular level to identify ways to maintain microbiome stability and help protect astronaut health on future Moon and Mars missions. <\/p>\n

Mission Hardware<\/strong> <\/h2>\n

A study (CBIOMES<\/a>) of how spaceflight impacts the relationship between organisms and their gut microbiome. Researchers will observe changes in roundworms down to the cellular level to identify ways to maintain microbiome stability and help protect astronaut health on future Moon and Mars missions. <\/p>\n