Cygnus Spacecraft
Delivery services 250 miles above Earth. That’s defining possible.
Cygnus: Out of this World Deliveries
To ensure critical cargo safely and reliably reaches the International Space Station (ISS), Northrop Grumman pioneered technologies for commercial resupply services and has been meeting NASA’s logistics needs for more than 10 years. Cygnus spacecraft have delivered more than 138,000 pounds of equipment, science experiments, and supplies to sustain the ISS astronauts under NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services (CRS and CRS-2) contracts.
Pioneering Logistics in Space
Northrop Grumman is a leading innovator of logistics capabilities in space. The Cygnus spacecraft, innovative cargo loading processes and mission support are hallmarks of Northrop Grumman’s commitment to advancing human spaceflight and the commercial space economy.
Cygnus has evolved from its original configuration with several design improvements:
- Increased cargo capacity from 18 m3 to 27 m3
- Late load for special equipment and science needs
- Secondary missions
- Capability to Reboost the ISS orbit
Cygnus Design
Cygnus consists of a Service Module and a Pressurized Cargo Module that carries crew supplies, equipment and scientific experiments to destinations in low-Earth orbit. The Service Module incorporates advanced avionics developed by Northrop Grumman and guidance and navigation components that allow for fully autonomous rendezvous operations. The avionics design fully meets rigorous and exhaustive NASA safety requirements imposed on human-rated space vehicles.
Future of Cygnus
The Cygnus design is the foundational basis for spacecraft to support the next generation of space exploration missions, from delivery and logistics services to commercial space stations and other commercial low-Earth orbit ventures, to deep space logistics to the moon and beyond.
The Latest on Cygnus
Northrop Grumman’s 20th Cargo Resupply Mission Successfully Launches to the International Space Station for NASA
Northrop Grumman’s NG-19 Launch Marks 10 Years of International Space Station Cargo Resupply Missions
Northrop Grumman’s 18th Cygnus Cargo Resupply Spacecraft Arrives at International Space Station
Watch: Northrop Grumman Names Next Cygnus Mission After Space Pioneer Sally Ride
Dulles, Va. – Oct. 4, 2022
Northrop Grumman Set to Launch Cargo Resupply Mission and Perform Reboost Service for International Space Station
Northrop Grumman Awarded NASA Contract to Provide First Crew Module for Artemis Program Gateway
Company adapts proven Cygnus technology for human habitation