NASA Cygnus XL Launch Scrubbed Due to Weather: New Target April 10

NASA, Northrop Grumman, and SpaceX officially scrubbed the planned launch of the Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, due to forecasted inclement weather at Cape Canaveral in Florida. The Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services-24 mission is now targeting Friday, April 10 at 8:03 a.m. EDT.

Launch Delay Details

The CRS-24 / NG-24 mission is now targeting no earlier than 8:03 a.m. EDT on Friday, April 10 for its next launch attempt aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. If needed, Saturday, April 11 at 7:40 a.m. remains a backup opportunity. The launch will take place from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, the same pad used for many of SpaceX's operational Falcon 9 missions in recent years.

Cygnus XL and Cargo

The Cygnus XL — the enlarged version of Northrop Grumman's cargo freighter — is carrying approximately 11,000 pounds (5,000 kilograms) of supplies, including food, scientific experiments, and equipment for the station's Expedition 75 crew. This is a milestone mission for the Cygnus XL variant, which significantly increases the cargo capacity available to NASA compared to the original Cygnus design. The mission plays a critical role in NASA's ongoing ISS resupply strategy.

Station Capture

After launch, astronauts aboard the International Space Station will use the Canadarm2 robotic arm to capture the spacecraft and install it on the Unity module's Earth-facing port for cargo unloading. The rendezvous and capture process typically takes several hours and will be broadcast live on NASA TV for space enthusiasts worldwide. Following the Artemis II mission, this marks another important step in NASA's active 2026 space operations calendar.