NASA Commercial Resupply Mission

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A spacecraft docked to the international space station

Meet NG-16: The S.S. Ellison Onizuka

About the NG-16 Mission

Northrop Grumman is proud to name the NG-16 Cygnus spacecraft after former astronaut Ellison Onizuka. It is the company’s tradition to name each Cygnus spacecraft in honor of an individual who has made great contributions to human spaceflight. Onizuka was selected in honor of his prominence as the first Asian American astronaut.

Ellison's Bio NG-16 Mission Overview Antares Cygnus PIRPL Factsheet

NG-16 Mission Updates

The next Cygnus launch aboard our Antares rocket is scheduled for August 10, 2021 from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) Pad 0A on Wallops Island, Virginia.

Update: Antares is set to launch Aug. 10 at 5:56 p.m. ET from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport 0A at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Cygnus is scheduled to rendezvous with the Space Station on Aug. 12. Live coverage of the Antares launch and NG-16 berthing with the station will be available on NASA TV, the NASA app, and the agency’s website.

Update: The Antares launch has moved to 6:01 p.m. ET, which enabled teams to resolve a minor ground support issue. We are go for launch.

Update: The Antares rocket launched at 6:01 p.m. ET from NASA Wallops carrying over 8,200 lbs of cargo aboard Cygnus headed for the International Space Station.

Update: The solar arrays have successfully deployed on the Cygnus spacecraft and is on its way to deliver more than 8,200 pounds of scientific investigations, technology demonstrations, commercial products, and other cargo to the International Space Station. Rendezvous is set for Aug. 10.

Update: The S.S. Ellison Onizuka Cygnus has arrived at the International Space Station and was successfully captured at 6:07 a.m. ET.

Update: The Cygnus spacecraft was bolted into place on the International Space Station’s Earth-facing port of the Unity module at 9:42 a.m. ET. Cygnus will remain at the space station for about three months until the spacecraft departs in November.

NG-16 Launch Path

More About Cygnus and Antares

NG-16 News

Northrop Grumman Set to Launch 16th Cargo Delivery Mission to the International Space Station

Northrop Grumman

Antares rocket ready for launch on space station resupply mission

Spaceflight Now

Antares rocket launches heaviest Cygnus cargo ship ever to space station for NASA

Space.com