Northrop Grumman CRS-23 Launched On SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket

NASA sent the Northrop Grumman Cygnus XL spacecraft with more science, crew supplies, and tech demonstrations to the International Space Station on board a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Sunday, September 14, and is expected to join the station on Wednesday, September 17.

The Falcon 9 carrying NASA’s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services Mission 23 on the Cygnus XL filled with 11,000 pounds of cargo lifted off at 6:11 pm EDT from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This is the first flight for the larger version of the solar-powered spacecraft.

After rendezvousing with the ISS, the Canadarm2 robotic arm will capture the spacecraft at about 6:35 am on Wednesday September 17. The arm will be operated by NASA astronaut Jonny Kim with assistance from NASA astronaut Zena Cardman. The Cygnus XL will be attached to the Unity module’s Earth-facing port for unloading.

Dozens of research experiments are on board the Cygnus XL. They will be conducted during Expedition 73 and include materials to produce semiconductor crystals and equipment to study improvements for cryogenic fuel tanks.

Also on board is a specialized UV light system to prevent microbes from growing in water systems and supplies to produce pharmaceutical crystals to treat cancer and other diseases.

The activities surrounding Cygnus XL’s arrival will be covered as listed here:

Wednesday, September 17, all times are Eastern Daylight and are subject to change:

• 5 am – Arrival coverage begins on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and more
• 6:35 am – Capture of Cygnus XL with the space station’s robotic arm
• 8 am – Installation coverage begins on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and more

Current information is also available on the space station’s blog.

The Cygnus XL spacecraft, named the S.S. William “Willie” McCool, is slated to remain at the station until March 2026, and since it is not designed to return to Earth, it will be filled with trash before departing the station. The spacecraft and its contents will incinerate harmlessly and be totally consumed as it falls through the Earth’s atmosphere.

Willie McCool was on board the space shuttle Columbia and perished along with the rest of the crew when the shuttle disintegrated during its return flight in February 2003.

FMI:  www.nasa.gov/