Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft has deployed its two solar arrays after a 6:11 p.m. EDT launch on Sunday from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, atop a SpaceX Falcon 9, setting up a planned International Space Station rendezvous on Sept. 17, according to a NASA update.
Mission overview
The mission, designated CRS-23 (NASA’s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 23), is delivering cargo to support ongoing research and operations aboard the International Space Station. Live coverage of the spacecraft’s arrival is scheduled to begin at 5 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, Sept. 17, on NASA+ and select partner platforms, including Amazon Prime, per NASA.
Approach and capture plan
Rendezvous and capture are targeted for approximately 6:35 a.m. EDT on Sept. 17. NASA astronaut Jonny Kim will operate the station’s Canadarm2 to grapple the vehicle, with NASA astronaut Zena Cardman serving as backup. Following capture, Cygnus XL will be berthed to the station’s Unity module Earth-facing port, where it is slated to remain through March 2026.
Key milestones
- Launch: Sunday, Sept. 14, 6:11 p.m. EDT — Falcon 9 from SLC-40, Cape Canaveral
- Solar array deployment: Confirmed after orbital insertion
- Rendezvous and capture: Wednesday, Sept. 17, ~6:35 a.m. EDT
- Berthing: Installation to Unity module’s nadir (Earth-facing) port after capture
- Planned stay: Through March 2026 (undocking and disposal to follow)
Why it matters
Commercial resupply missions sustain station operations and research cadence. CRS-23 also underscores cross-provider launch flexibility, pairing a Northrop Grumman spacecraft with a SpaceX launch vehicle to maintain logistics continuity. NASA’s posted update did not detail the cargo manifest.
What to watch next
- Rendezvous operations and arrival timeline updates in the hours before capture
- Robotics: Canadarm2 grapple and handoff for berthing to Unity
- Berthing confirmation and subsequent preparations for cargo operations
Source: NASA ISS blog
