On August 10, 2021, at 22:01:55 UTC, the Antares-230+ launch vehicle with the American Cygnus NG-16 [S.S. Ellison Onizuka] was launched from the Wallops Flight Facility (Virginia, USA).

RD-181 engines produced by NPO Energomash (part of the Roscosmos) used in the first stage of the Antares-230+ carrier rocket ensured the successful launch.

The Cygnus spacecraft will deliver payload to the International Space Station, including equipment and materials for scientific research. Cygnus is expected to arrive at the ISS on August 12th.

The ship is named after Ellison Onizuka (1946-1986), the first American astronaut of Asian descent to go into space.