4 minute read•Updated 12:55 PM EDT, Thu March 27, 2025
NASA and Northrop Grumman will no longer proceed with the planned June launch of a Cygnus cargo mission to the International Space Station (ISS) after discovering damage to a key component of the spacecraft. The NG-22 mission, which had already faced delays, has now been officially scrubbed, with NASA shifting its focus to the next mission in the series, NG-23, currently targeted for no earlier than fall 2025.
In a statement released March 26, NASA confirmed that the Pressurized Cargo Module (PCM) intended for NG-22 had been damaged during transportation from the manufacturer to Northrop Grumman. The module, which houses critical supplies and scientific payloads for the ISS crew, was rendered unusable for its scheduled flight.
“The pressurized cargo module for Northrop Grumman’s NG-22 Cygnus cargo resupply mission was damaged while in transit from the supplier to Northrop Grumman...Possible effects to the NG-22 mission timeline are being evaluated. Meanwhile, we are working to expedite the hardware for NG-23 to support a launch as early as fall 2025. Our highest priority is to safely deliver cargo and supplies to the International Space Station crew as planned.” - Dan Leone, a company spokesperson
Damaged in Transit
The incident stems from what NASA described as a “commercial shipping accident” involving the container transporting the module. The issue had been flagged by Northrop Grumman several weeks ago, prompting NASA to prepare contingency plans for upcoming missions.
On March 7 NASA discussed the potential fallout from the damage, acknowledging that they were already taking steps to rebalance its logistics chain.
“If we’re going to have another shift of our cargo missions, I’ve got to adjust and accommodate more food,” - Dana Weigel, Manager of NASA’s ISS Program
NASA is proceeding with a plan to swap out certain science investigations on the upcoming SpaceX CRS-32 (SpX-32) cargo mission in favor of crew consumables and station hardware. That Dragon launch is now expected no earlier than April 21.
While NASA has not detailed exactly how much science has been cut from SpX-32’s manifest, historical trends show previous missions delivering close to a 50-50 split between science and crew supplies. SpX-31, launched in November 2024, carried 961 kilograms of crew supplies and 917 kilograms of research. In contrast, SpX-30 delivered 545 kilograms of consumables and 1,135 kilograms of investigations.
NG-22 Delay Curse
NG-22 had already encountered setbacks prior to the shipping damage. Originally scheduled for February, the mission was quietly delayed due to an unspecified avionics issue, with neither NASA nor Northrop Grumman offering many details at the time. The latest blow effectively shelves the mission indefinitely, pending an assessment of whether the damaged PCM might be used in a future flight.
Meanwhile, the NG-21 Cygnus spacecraft, currently docked to the ISS since August 2024, is wrapping up its mission.
After a stay marked by initial orbit-raising issues, it is scheduled to be unberthed using the Canadarm2 on March 28. A destructive reentry over the Pacific Ocean is planned for March 30.
The Big Picture
Cygnus and SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft have been the workhorses of NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) program, delivering vital cargo to the orbiting lab under contracts signed as far back as 2008. A third provider, Sierra Space, has yet to debut its Dream Chaser spaceplane, though momentum is finally building.
“We’re looking towards the end of summer right now” - Erik Daehler, Sierra Space VP
Sierra Space is currently working with NASA on ISS scheduling negotiations and final vehicle testing as key pacing items.
In parallel, Japan’s space agency JAXA is developing the HTV-X, a next-generation cargo craft intended to replace the legacy HTV (Kounotori) series. The first HTV-X mission is also targeting a potential fall 2025 debut.
As NASA adjusts to the shifting landscape of commercial cargo transportation, agency officials stress flexibility and redundancy. The damage to NG-22 serves as a stark reminder of the logistical complexities involved in maintaining the ISS and the critical importance of backup plans in orbit and on Earth.
