Overview
Cygnus is an uncrewed cargo spacecraft built by Northrop Grumman (formerly Orbital Sciences, then Orbital ATK) to resupply the International Space Station under NASA's Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) programme. Named after the Cygnus constellation, it has flown over 20 missions since 2013.
Cygnus originally launched on Northrop Grumman's own Antares rocket from Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, but has transitioned to Falcon 9 launches during the Antares 330 transition period. Unlike Cargo Dragon, Cygnus is expendable — it burns up on re-entry loaded with station waste.
Key Specifications
| Parameter | Enhanced Cygnus |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Northrop Grumman |
| Type | Uncrewed cargo (pressurised) |
| Cargo Capacity | 3,750 kg |
| Pressurised Volume | 27 m³ |
| Length | 6.87 m |
| Diameter | 3.07 m |
| Mass | ~7,500 kg (loaded) |
| Launch Vehicle | Falcon 9 / Antares |
| ISS Interface | Berthed via Canadarm2 (CBM) |
| Return Cargo | None — destructive re-entry |
| Reusability | No |
Reboost Capability
During extended missions, Cygnus has demonstrated the ability to reboost the ISS orbit using its own propulsion system — a capability previously exclusive to Progress and visiting vehicles' own thrusters. This provides NASA with additional redundancy for station altitude maintenance.
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Pick a mission profile and we'll rank the world's crewed and cargo spacecraft by suitability — capability, flight heritage, reusability and fit. A live calculation across our spacecraft catalogue, not a static list.
Anatomy & mission profile
- Cargo (up)3,750 kg
- Pressurised vol27 m³
- Mass7,500 kg
- Launch vehicleAntares / Falcon 9
- Heat shield—
- LandingDestructive re-entry
Pressurised volume to scale
Approximate pressurised volume — a sense of how roomy each vehicle is for crew or cargo.
Cygnus vs every crew & cargo spacecraft
| Spacecraft | Type | Crew | Cargo kg | Vol m³ | Reuse | Debut | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 Cygnus you are here | Cargo spacecraft | — | 3,750 | 27 | No | 2013 | Operational |
| 🇺🇸 Crew Dragon | Crew capsule | 7 | — | 9.3 | ♻︎ Yes | 2020 | Operational |
| 🇺🇸 Cargo Dragon | Cargo spacecraft | — | 6,000 | 9.3 | ♻︎ Yes | 2020 | Operational |
| 🇺🇸 Dragon | Crew + cargo family | 7 | 6,000 | 9.3 | ♻︎ Yes | 2010 | Operational |
| 🇺🇸 Orion | Deep-space crew capsule | 4 | — | 19.6 | No | 2022 | Pre-operational |
| 🇺🇸 Starliner | Crew capsule | 7 | — | 11 | ♻︎ Yes | 2019 | Under review |
| 🇷🇺 Soyuz MS | Crew capsule | 3 | — | 7.5 | No | 1967 | Operational |
| 🇨🇳 Shenzhou | Crew capsule | 3 | — | 7 | No | 2003 | Operational |
| 🇷🇺 Progress | Cargo spacecraft | — | 2,400 | 7.6 | No | 1978 | Operational |
| 🇨🇳 Tianzhou | Cargo spacecraft | — | 6,700 | 18.1 | No | 2017 | Operational |
| 🇺🇸 Dream Chaser | Cargo spaceplane | — | 5,500 | 16 | ♻︎ Yes | Planned | In development |
| 🇺🇸 Starship HLS | Crewed lunar lander | 4 | 100,000 | 100 | ♻︎ Yes | Planned | In development |
| 🇯🇵 HTV-X | Cargo spacecraft | — | 5,850 | 30 | No | Planned | In development |
Tap any column to sort · crew = maximum seats, cargo = pressurised + unpressurised upmass · figures are best estimates as of 2026.
Track Cygnus across Orbital Radar
Frequently Asked Questions
3,750 kg of pressurised cargo — less than Cargo Dragon (6,000 kg) but with a larger pressurised volume (27 m³).
No. Cygnus burns up on re-entry. Only Cargo Dragon can return significant payloads from the ISS.