NASA and its partners have advanced the schedule for the next commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station, targeting no earlier than Sept. 14 for launch. A Northrop Grumman Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft is set to ride a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, at 6:11 p.m. EDT. NASA is targeting Cygnus arrival and installation at the ISS on Wednesday, Sept. 17.
The update follows an assessment of mission readiness and is intended to maximize available launch opportunities. The flight supports Expedition 73 operations and continues regular logistics and research deliveries to the orbiting laboratory.
Mission Overview
The Cygnus XL will deliver more than 11,000 pounds of science investigations, technology demonstrations, crew supplies, and station hardware to sustain on-orbit research and operations.
- Launch vehicle: SpaceX Falcon 9
- Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
- Targeted launch: 6:11 p.m. EDT, Sunday, Sept. 14
- Targeted station arrival and installation: Wednesday, Sept. 17
What’s on Board
NASA highlights several research payloads aimed at advancing manufacturing, health, and propulsion technologies in microgravity:
- Materials to study semiconductor crystal production in space to evaluate quality and defect control benefits of microgravity.
- Equipment to support improvements for cryogenic fuel tank technologies, informing long-duration storage and transfer systems.
- A specialized ultraviolet light system designed to mitigate biofilm growth in spaceflight environments.
- Supplies for pharmaceutical crystal production experiments with potential applications for treating cancer and other diseases.
Why It Matters
Regular cargo missions enable continuous ISS operations and a broad research portfolio that cannot be replicated on Earth. These flights help mature systems relevant to future exploration architectures and commercial low Earth orbit destinations, while sustaining a human presence in orbit approaching its 25th consecutive year.
What’s Next
Following launch readiness reviews and range availability, teams will proceed toward the targeted liftoff. After orbital insertion, Cygnus will perform a series of rendezvous maneuvers for capture and installation to the station’s United States Orbital Segment, pending real-time station operations and traffic. After several weeks attached, the spacecraft is expected to depart with disposable cargo for a destructive reentry.
For NASA’s announcement and additional details, see the agency’s update here.
