"SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches Northrop Grumman Cygnus Cargo to Space Station"

SpaceX is set to launch a Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft atop a Falcon 9 rocket for the first time on Jan. 30. Modifications to the rocket's payload fairing include adding a hatch for late-load cargo, such as ice cream for the astronauts. The Cygnus will deliver fresh foods, supplies, and science experiments to the International Space Station, where it will stay docked for approximately six months. Afterward, it will dispose of waste during a fiery reentry into Earth's atmosphere. Previous Cygnus missions flew atop Northrop Grumman's Antares rocket, which is being phased out due to supply chain disruptions caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.