A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched Northrop Grumman’s 20th Commercial Resupply Services mission (NG-20) to the International Space Station from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 12:07 p.m. on 30 January 2024. Following stage separation, Falcon 9's first stage booster landed at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1).

This is the tenth flight of the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-5, GPS III Space Vehicle 06, Inmarsat I6-F2, CRS-28, Intelsat G-37, and four Starlink missions.

For the NG-20 mission, the Cygnus spacecraft will deliver more than 3,700 kg. (8,200 lb.) of cargo to the space station. Cygnus is comprised of two primary components, the Pressurized Cargo Module and the Service Module.

In keeping with company tradition, each spacecraft is named after an important figure in the aerospace industry. Northrop Grumman is honored to name the NG-20 Cygnus spacecraft after NASA astronaut Dr. Patricia “Patty” Hilliard Robertson, an accomplished medical doctor and aerobatic pilot who passed away before she was able to fly to the ISS. The S.S. Patricia “Patty” Hilliard Robertson will be launched into orbit using a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Northrop Grumman will once again load critical, time sensitive cargo into Cygnus 24 hours before the scheduled launch.

Upon arrival at the International Space Station, the cargo will be unloaded from Cygnus. Beginning with the NG-17 mission, Cygnus offers the capability to perform routine reboost services as needed while berthed to the station. Once its mission has been completed, Cygnus will perform a safe, destructive reentry into Earth’s atmosphere.