The Cygnus XL spacecraft approaching the ISS, carrying vital supplies and experiments aboard the CRS-23 resupply mission (Photo: NASA)
NASA with Northrop Grumman and SpaceX is planning a cargo mission to the International Space Station (ISS). It is Scheduled at no earlier than 6:11 p.m. on Sunday, September 14 this mission Commercial Resupply Services 23 (CRS-23) will carry essential scientific hardware, experiments and general supplies to assist astronauts on the ISS. The launch is a milestone it releases Cygnus XL a newly upgraded spacecraft that can transport over 11,000 pounds of cargo to low Earth orbit.
The Cygnus XL is a spacecraft that will be launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with departure from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. It is a larger cargo storage with solar power propulsion, and this will be the first flight for the more volume Cygnus variants.
On Wednesday, September 17 Cygnus XL will dock to the ISS with Canadarm2, the station's robotic arm when in orbit. For unloading the spacecraft will be berthed on the Earth-facing side of the Unity module.
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This flight carries much more than resupply on board Cygnus XL including materials to make semiconductor and pharmaceutical crystals, equipment to improve cryogenic fuel storage and UV sterilization technology intended to improve microbial contamination of water systems.
These technologies may have applications not just for future space exploration but also for healthcare and technology creation on Earth such as cancer therapies.
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In remembrance of the astronaut in the 2003 Columbia tragedy it has been dubbed the S.S. William "Willie" McCool. Before safely deorbiting and burning up upon re-entry, Cygnus XL will remain docked as the ISS until March.
NASA invites the public to take part through its virtual visitor program which consist of livestreams, edited launch footage and digital mementos. Media briefings and science webinars are also scheduled in countdown days leading up to launch providing more insight into the mission's purpose and its contribution to space exploration overall.
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not reflect real-time mission updates. For official news refer to NASA's verified platforms.
