SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches Northrop Grumman’s Largest Cargo Spacecraft to ISS
CAPE CANAVERAL, FL - A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched Northrop Grumman’s NG-23 Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft, the S.S. William C. “Willie” McCool, toward the International Space Station (ISS) today, September 13, 2024. This mission marks the inaugural flight of the largest Cygnus spacecraft ever built and delivers critical supplies,scientific experiments,and hardware to the orbiting laboratory.
The launch, originating from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, underscores the continued reliance on commercial partnerships to sustain operations on the ISS. The NG-23 Cygnus is carrying over 8,300 pounds of cargo, including research investigations, crew supplies, and equipment needed for station maintenance. This delivery is crucial as the ISS continues to support groundbreaking research in microgravity and prepares for future long-duration space missions. The Cygnus spacecraft will remain docked at the ISS until March 2026, when it will perform a controlled re-entry and burn up in Earth’s atmosphere.
Northrop Grumman named the spacecraft after NASA astronaut William C. McCool, who tragically perished in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003. This mission honors McCool’s dedication to space exploration and scientific advancement.
The NG-23 Cygnus is one of three primary cargo vehicles servicing the ISS. Russia’s Progress spacecraft, which recently arrived at the station on Saturday, September 13, are designed for single-use disposal via atmospheric burnup. SpaceX’s Dragon capsule, however, distinguishes itself with its ability to return to Earth via parachute-aided ocean splashdowns, allowing for refurbishment and reuse.
(Image credit: NASA/SpaceX)
