NASA Sends More Science, Technology, and Crew Supplies to International Space Station with Successful CRS-23 Launch
NASA is sending additional science experiments, technology demonstrations, and crew supplies to the International Space Station (ISS) following the successful launch of the agency’s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 23 (CRS-23) mission.
The company’s Cygnus XL spacecraft—carrying more than 11,000 pounds of cargo—lifted off at 6:11 p.m. EDT on Sunday aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This mission marks the first flight of the larger, more cargo-capable version of the solar-powered Cygnus spacecraft.
Arrival and Installation
Cygnus XL is scheduled to be captured at 6:35 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 17, by the Canadarm2 robotic arm, which will be operated by NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, with assistance from NASA astronaut Zena Cardman. Once captured, the spacecraft will be installed on the Earth-facing port of the Unity module for cargo unloading.
Science and Technology on Board
The CRS-23 resupply mission carries dozens of research experiments that will be conducted during Expedition 73, including:
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Materials for producing semiconductor crystals in space
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Equipment for improving cryogenic fuel tank technologies
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A UV light system designed to prevent microbial growth in water systems
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Supplies to produce pharmaceutical crystals for treatments targeting cancer and other diseases
These are just a few of the hundreds of scientific investigations conducted aboard the station, spanning the fields of biology and biotechnology, Earth and space science, physical sciences, and technology development and demonstration.
For nearly 25 years, NASA has maintained a continuous U.S. human presence aboard the ISS, where astronauts have gained critical experience living and working in space for extended periods. The space station continues to serve as a springboard for developing a low Earth orbit economy and advancing NASA’s exploration goals, including the Artemis missions to the Moon and future American astronaut missions to Mars.
NASA Live Coverage Schedule
(All times Eastern and subject to change based on real-time operations)
Wednesday, Sept. 17
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5:00 a.m. – Arrival coverage begins (NASA+, Amazon Prime, and more)
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6:35 a.m. – Capture of Cygnus XL with the station’s robotic arm
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8:00 a.m. – Installation coverage begins (NASA+, Amazon Prime, and more)
Note: All coverage times are estimates and may be adjusted based on mission operations. Follow the space station blog for real-time updates.
Mission Duration and Legacy
Cygnus XL is scheduled to remain docked to the ISS until March 2026, at which point it will depart and dispose of several thousand pounds of trash during re-entry, where it will safely burn up in Earth’s atmosphere.
The spacecraft is named S.S. William “Willie” C. McCool, in honor of the NASA astronaut who tragically lost his life in 2003 during the Space Shuttle Columbia accident.
Learn more about this mission:
https://www.nasa.gov/mission/nasas-northrop-grumman-crs-23/
