Northrop Grumman Expands Cargo Capacity with NG-24 Cygnus XL Launch

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - April 11, 2026 - Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE: NOC) launched its second Cygnus XL spacecraft aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, marking continued momentum in the company's commercial resupply and logistics services.

• NG-24 is carrying nearly 11,000 pounds of equipment, science experiments and essential supplies to crew aboard the International Space Station.
• The Cygnus XL spacecraft is equipped to deliver critical orbital reboost capabilities, maintaining the space station's stability and longevity in space.
• Since its inaugural flight in 2013, Cygnus has successfully delivered more than 158,000 pounds of vital cargo to the space station.

Expert:
David Schiller, vice president, civil space and sciences, Northrop Grumman: "With every resupply mission, we're evolving our technology and proving that Northrop Grumman is the go-to partner for the future of the commercial low earth orbit economy. We're committed to remaining a reliable partner for humanity's exploration of space."

Northrop Grumman's Cygnus XL spacecraft, the S.S. Steven R. Nagel, launched to the International Space Station by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. (Photo Credit: Northrop Grumman )

Details:
The Cygnus XL spacecraft, first flown in 2025, is the latest evolution of Northrop Grumman's Cygnus product line, offering 33 percent more cargo capacity than the previous variant. Manufactured in Virginia, Cygnus uses various Northrop Grumman-manufactured components, including avionics and power modules, harness assemblies, UltraFlex™ solar arrays, spacecraft structures, propulsion tanks and loop heat pipe radiators for temperature control.

Northrop Grumman names each Cygnus spacecraft in honor of an individual who has made great contributions to human spaceflight. For NG-24, Cygnus XL is named for Steven R. Nagel. Nagel was a distinguished Air Force pilot, NASA astronaut and teacher. As a veteran of four spaceflights, including commanding the mission that deployed the Gamma Ray Observatory, he helped expand our understanding of the universe and showcased the importance of scientific collaboration. He flew aboard STS-51G as a mission specialist, STS-61A as the pilot, and commanded STS-37 and STS-55. With the completion of his fourth flight, Nagel logged a total of 723 hours in space.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defense technology company. Our pioneering solutions equip our customers with the capabilities they need to connect and protect the world, and push the boundaries of human exploration across the universe. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers' toughest problems, our employees define possible every day.