SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches Cygnus XL to ISS with 11,000 Pounds of Cargo

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched Northrop Grumman's Cygnus XL spacecraft from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at 7:41 a.m. EDT, carrying more than 11,000 pounds of scientific experiments, supplies, and hardware to the International Space Station.

The mission, designated as Northrop Grumman's Commercial Resupply Services 24, or CRS-24, marked the second flight of the upgraded Cygnus XL vehicle, which features enhanced payload capacity compared to earlier models. The spacecraft, named S.S. Steven R. Nagel in honor of the late NASA astronaut who flew four space shuttle missions and helped deploy the Gamma Ray Observatory, separated from the rocket about 10 minutes after liftoff and deployed its solar arrays roughly an hour and 45 minutes later. It reached preliminary orbit without incident, setting the stage for its rendezvous with the orbiting laboratory.

The Cygnus XL is scheduled to arrive at the space station on Monday, April 13, at approximately 12:50 p.m. EDT. NASA astronauts Jack Hathaway and Chris Williams, members of the Expedition 74 crew, will operate the Canadarm2 robotic arm to capture the uncrewed freighter....