# Cygnus NG-21

> Summer 2024 cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station

**Wikidata**: [Q124358060](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q124358060)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cygnus_NG-21)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cygnus-ng-21

## Summary
Cygnus NG-21 is a cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS) launched in August 2024 as part of NASA's Commercial Resupply Services program. Operated by Northrop Grumman, it delivered supplies and scientific experiments to the ISS using a Cygnus Enhanced spacecraft launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: August 4, 2024, at 15:02:53 UTC from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40.
- **Operator**: Northrop Grumman Space Systems, with launch services provided by SpaceX.
- **Spacecraft**: Cygnus Enhanced, an uncrewed cargo spacecraft named *S.S. Francis R. "Dick" Scobee* after astronaut Dick Scobee.
- **Launch Vehicle**: Falcon 9 Block 5 (Booster B1080.10), marking the first Cygnus mission launched by SpaceX.
- **Mission Duration**: Berthed at the ISS from August 6, 2024, to March 28, 2025, before atmospheric re-entry on March 30, 2025.
- **Docking Location**: Unity module (nadir port) of the ISS.
- **Preceded by**: Cygnus NG-20; **Followed by**: Cygnus NG-23 (scheduled for 2025).
- **Manufacturers**: Northrop Grumman Space Systems (primary) and Thales Alenia Space (pressure module).
- **Orbit**: Low Earth orbit, with deorbit over the Pacific Ocean.

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Cygnus NG-21?
A: Cygnus NG-21 was a cargo resupply mission to deliver supplies, equipment, and scientific experiments to the International Space Station under NASA's Commercial Resupply Services contract.

### Q: When was Cygnus NG-21 launched and how?
A: It launched on August 4, 2024, at 15:02:53 UTC aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40, marking the first Cygnus mission to use a Falcon 9 instead of Northrop Grumman's Antares rocket.

### Q: How long did Cygnus NG-21 stay at the ISS?
A: The spacecraft was berthed at the ISS from August 6, 2024, to March 28, 2025, before undocking and re-entering Earth's atmosphere on March 30, 2025.

### Q: Who was the mission named after?
A: The spacecraft was named *S.S. Francis R. "Dick" Scobee* in honor of Dick Scobee, the commander of the Space Shuttle *Challenger* during its tragic 1986 mission (STS-51-L).

### Q: What happened to Cygnus NG-21 after its mission?
A: After undocking from the ISS on March 28, 2025, the spacecraft performed a controlled atmospheric re-entry over the Pacific Ocean on March 30, 2025, at 10:15 UTC.

## Why It Matters
Cygnus NG-21 played a critical role in sustaining the International Space Station by delivering essential cargo, including food, equipment, and scientific research materials. As part of NASA's Commercial Resupply Services, it demonstrates the success of public-private partnerships in space exploration. The mission also marked a significant transition, being the first Cygnus flight launched by SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket instead of Northrop Grumman's Antares, highlighting flexibility in launch providers. Additionally, the mission honored the legacy of astronaut Dick Scobee, reinforcing the cultural and historical connections between past and present spaceflight endeavors. By ensuring the ISS remains operational, missions like NG-21 enable ongoing research in microgravity, benefiting fields from medicine to materials science.

## Notable For
- **First Cygnus mission launched by SpaceX**: Transitioned from Northrop Grumman's Antares rocket to SpaceX's Falcon 9 Block 5.
- **Named after Dick Scobee**: Honors the *Challenger* astronaut, reinforcing NASA's tradition of memorializing spaceflight pioneers.
- **Extended ISS berthing**: Remained docked for over seven months, supporting long-duration research and operations.
- **International collaboration**: Pressure module manufactured by Thales Alenia Space (Italy), showcasing multinational cooperation.
- **Controlled re-entry**: Demonstrated precise deorbiting capabilities, ensuring safe disposal over the Pacific Ocean.

## Body
### Mission Overview
Cygnus NG-21 (also known as CRS OA-21 or Antares NG-21) was the 21st operational cargo delivery flight to the International Space Station under NASA's Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract. The mission used Northrop Grumman's Cygnus Enhanced spacecraft, designed to carry up to 3,750 kg of cargo to the ISS.

### Launch and Ascent
- **Launch Date**: August 4, 2024, at 15:02:53 UTC.
- **Launch Vehicle**: SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 (Booster B1080.10), marking the first time a Cygnus spacecraft was launched by SpaceX. Previous missions used Northrop Grumman's Antares rocket.
- **Launch Site**: Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40), Florida, USA.

### Spacecraft Details
- **Model**: Cygnus Enhanced (Pressurized Cargo Module, PCM-21).
- **Manufacturers**:
  - Northrop Grumman Space Systems (service module, integration).
  - Thales Alenia Space (pressure module, Italy).
- **Named After**: Francis R. "Dick" Scobee, commander of the Space Shuttle *Challenger* (STS-51-L).
- **COSPAR ID**: 2024-139A.
- **NSSDCA ID**: 2024-139A.

### ISS Operations
- **Berthing Date**: August 6, 2024, at 09:33 UTC.
- **Docking Location**: Unity module (nadir port) of the ISS.
- **Unberthing Date**: March 28, 2025.
- **Duration at ISS**: ~7.5 months.

### Mission Conclusion
- **Deorbit Date**: March 30, 2025, at 10:15 UTC.
- **Re-entry Location**: Pacific Ocean (controlled destructive re-entry).
- **Purpose**: Safe disposal of the spacecraft and any waste from the ISS.

### Context in CRS Program
- **Preceded by**: Cygnus NG-20 (launched January 2024).
- **Followed by**: Cygnus NG-23 (planned for 2025).
- **Part of**: NASA's Commercial Resupply Services Phase 2 (CRS-2) contract, ensuring continuous cargo delivery to the ISS.

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## References

1. [Source](http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-070124a-northrop-grumman-ng21-francis-dick-scobee.html)
2. Jonathan's Space Report
3. [Source](https://planet4589.org/space/jsr/back/news.844.txt)
4. [Source](https://planet4589.org/space/jsr/back/news.836.txt)