Human Spaceflight and Logistics
Northrop Grumman Supports Human Spaceflight
Since 2014, Northrop Grumman has provided vital supplies to the astronauts aboard the International Space Station with our Cygnus spacecraft launched aboard our Antares rocket. Now, as NASA plans to return humans to the Moon, Northrop Grumman is playing an integral role in the Artemis program.
- Northrop Grumman is providing key propulsion systems for the SLS rocket that will boost the Orion crew capsule into space, as well as motors used in the Orion Launch Abort System that will ensure astronaut safety during launch
- We are designing and building the Habitation and Logistics Outpost, or HALO, module for NASA's proposed Lunar Gateway which will serve as an exploration outpost for lunar missions
- Northrop Grumman is one of only two commercial companies in the world to provide commercial cargo resupply services to astronauts aboard the International Space Station
Cygnus Spacecraft
The Cygnus system is a flight proven design incorporating elements drawn from Northrop Grumman and its partners’ existing, flight-proven spacecraft technologies. Cygnus consists of a service module and a pressurized cargo module. The Cygnus spacecraft is used to carry crew supplies, spare equipment and scientific experiments to the space station. The service module incorporates advanced avionics developed by Northrop Grumman and guidance and navigation components that allow for fully autonomous rendezvous with the space station. The avionics design fully meets all of the demanding NASA safety requirements imposed on human-rated vehicles. The pressurized cargo module is manufactured by Thales Alenia Space specifically for Cygnus.
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SpaceLogistics and Mission Extension Vehicle
SpaceLogistics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Northrop Grumman, provides cooperative space logistics and in-orbit satellite servicing to geosynchronous satellite operators using its fleet of commercial servicing vehicles—the Mission Extension Vehicle, the Mission Robotic Vehicle and the Mission Extension Pods.
NASA's Artemis Program
NASA’s Artemis program will land the first woman and next man on the Moon, using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before and establish sustainable exploration. NASA will then use this knowledge to take the next giant leap – sending astronauts to Mars.
Northrop Grumman supports NASA’s Artemis program by providing the solid rocket boosters for the NASA Space Launch System and the abort motor and attitude control motor for the Orion spacecraft’s Launch Abort System. We’re also using our space logistics expertise to design and build a never-been-done-before deep space human habitat, HALO, which will deliver a safe exploration element for NASA’s Lunar Gateway – the most distant human outpost ever built.