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NASA

  • 05 Aug 2024

On 4th August, 2024, SpaceX successfully launched NASA’s cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS) this morning, taking advantage of a brief weather window in Florida.

  • SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 11:02 a.m. ET, carrying Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft toward the ISS.
  • The mission, designated Northrop Grumman-21 (NG-21), was initially rescheduled due to adverse weather conditions caused by a tropical cyclone.
  • The weather improved enough to allow the launch, despite earlier concerns about strong winds and unpredictable conditions.
  • The Cygnus spacecraft, which will take approximately 40 hours to reach the ISS, is expected to deploy its twin solar panels about two-and-a-half hours after launch.
  • The Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage booster, which has previously supported various missions, successfully landed at Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) after stage separation.
  • The Cygnus spacecraft is carrying scientific experiments and technology demonstrations, including tests on water recovery, stem cell production in microgravity, microorganism DNA studies, liver tissue growth research, and educational science demonstrations.