Northrop Grumman – Spaceflight Now

ULA confirms successful solid rocket booster test as Vulcan anomaly investigation continues

May 14, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

The static fire test was conducted by Northrop Grumman, the manufacturer of the GEM 63XL solid rocket booster that can be used to help power United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rockets. An in-flight anomaly was observed on one of those back in mid-February.

Vulcan suffers solid rocket booster problem during USSF-87 launch

February 12, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

The anomaly appears similar to the nozzle burn through seen during the launch of the second certification flight of a Vulcan rocket.

Space Development Agency awards roughly $3.5 billion to 4 companies for 72 missile tracking and warning satellites

December 20, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

This batch of satellites will populate what the SDA calls the Tracking Layer of its Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) constellation in low Earth orbit. The work will be divided evenly, with each company building 18 spacecraft.

Northrop Grumman cargo ship reaches space Station

September 18, 2025 William Harwood

The capture came after Northrop Grumman engineers adjusted the sensitivity of main engine fault detection software that prematurely triggered shut downs during two rendezvous thruster firings Tuesday.

NASA, Northrop Grumman postpone Cygnus XL arrival to ISS following propulsion issue

September 16, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The spacecraft was originally scheduled to dock with the International Space Station the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 17. An alternate plan is in the works.

Northrop Grumman’s 1st Cygnus XL spacecraft launches on cargo run to the space station

September 15, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

SpaceX launched the vehicle on a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Sunday, Sept. 14, at 6:11 p.m. EDT (2211 UTC). It’s scheduled to be berthed to the ISS by NASA astronaut Jonny Kim on Wednesday, Sept. 17.

Launch preview: SpaceX to launch new, improved Northrop Grumman Cygnus XL resupply ship to the space station

September 14, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The new Cygnus XL spacecraft will deliver more than 11,000 pounds (4,990 kg) of food, science supplies and cargo to the International Space Station. Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station happened at 6:11 a.m. EDT (2211 UTC).

Northrop Grumman launches first Minotaur 4 rocket from Vandenberg in 14 years

April 16, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The last Minotaur 4 launch from Space Launch Complex 8 was on Aug. 11, 2011. It is returning to that pad nearly a decade and a half later, lifting off on Wednesday, April 16, at 12:33 p.m. PDT (3:33 p.m. EDT, 1933 UTC).

SpaceX launches mystery ‘Optus-X’ on Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center

November 17, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The launch has been shrouded in secrecy and is being referred as the “TD7 mission” by SpaceX. Liftoff from Launch Complex 39A happened Sunday, Nov. 17, at 5:28 p.m. EST (2228 UTC).

Cygnus completes two-day journey to the International Space Station

August 5, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

Northrop Grumman engineers were able to create a new burn plan for the spacecraft after it missed two attempts to perform its “targeted altitude burn.” Capture using the robotic Canadarm2 happened at 3:11 a.m. EDT (0711 UTC) on Tuesday, Aug. 6.