A New Rocket for Wallops?

A New Era at Wallops: The Eclipse Rocket and the Future of Cygnus Missions

By: STEM2Stars

A powerful new rocket called Eclipse is set to launch from Wallops Island, Virginia as soon as 2026—and it’s going to change how we send supplies to space.

Developed by Northrop Grumman and Firefly Aerospace, Eclipse is designed to replace the older Antares rocket, which has been launching Cygnus cargo missions to the International Space Station (ISS) since 2013.

But Eclipse isn’t just a replacement—it’s a major upgrade.

🔧 What Makes Eclipse Special?

The Eclipse rocket will be able to carry twice as much cargo as Antares to low Earth orbit. It uses seven Miranda engines made in the United States, instead of depending on Russian engines like Antares did.

Eclipse is also designed with reusability in mind, which means the first stage (the lower part of the rocket) could eventually return and land after launch, just like SpaceX’s Falcon 9. This could lower costs and allow for more frequent missions.

Its strong, lightweight carbon composite structure makes it more efficient than older rockets, and its advanced guidance and electronics are based on modern designs already used in Firefly’s smaller Alpha rocket.

🛰️ Will Eclipse Carry Cygnus?

Yes—eventually. Cygnus is Northrop Grumman’s cargo spacecraft that brings food, experiments, and equipment to astronauts on the ISS. It needs a reliable rocket to get there.

While the next few Cygnus missions (NG-23, NG-24, and NG-25) will fly on a version called Antares 330—which already uses parts of the Eclipse first stage—the full Eclipse rocket will likely take over after that.

🌍 Why Launch from Wallops Island?

Most space launches in the U.S. happen in Florida, but Eclipse will launch from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. This gives the U.S. more launch options and helps avoid delays caused by crowded schedules at Cape Canaveral.

Wallops is also close to important government agencies and has a long history of supporting NASA and Department of Defense missions.

🔭 What’s Next?

The first Eclipse rocket could fly as early as 2026, and it’s being designed for many kinds of missions—cargo runs to the ISS, launching satellites, and even deep space science. It's an exciting step forward in American rocketry and a big win for Wallops Island.

For students interested in aerospace, engineering, or space science, this is a great example of how teamwork between companies and government agencies helps push the boundaries of what we can do in space.