Spacecraft developed by Northrop Grumman, their largest cargo vessel to date, successfully reaches the International Space Station during its inaugural mission.
The NG-23 mission, launched by Northrop Grumman on September 14 from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, marked a significant milestone as the first mission of the Cygnus XL. This new iteration of the Cygnus freighter is capable of carrying more cargo than its predecessors.
The S.S. Prince William 'Willie' McCool, named in honour of a fallen NASA astronaut who perished in the 2003 Columbia shuttle accident, was the spacecraft used for the NG-23 mission. The cargo it carried was destined for the International Space Station (ISS).
The S.S. Prince William 'Willie' McCool arrived at the ISS early on September 18, after a thruster issue delayed its initial scheduled arrival on September 17. NASA astronaut Jonny Kim used the orbiting lab's Canadarm2 robotic arm to grapple the Cygnus at 7:24 a.m. EDT (1124 GMT). The freighter was then berthed to the Earth-facing port on the ISS's Unity module at 10:10 a.m. EDT (1410 GMT) and will remain there until March 2026.
The cargo aboard the NG-23 Cygnus is intended to support ongoing research and technology development on the ISS. It includes materials for producing semiconductor crystals, equipment for improving cryogenic fuel tanks, a UV light system to prevent microbe growth in water systems, and supplies for producing pharmaceutical crystals that could treat cancer and other diseases. The cargo also includes research and technology demonstrations facilitated by the Cygnus XL.
The delay in the current mission resulted from problems with NG-22, which was initially scheduled to lift off in January but was canceled altogether after the NG-22 Cygnus was damaged during transport to the launch site. The command of the delivery of the S.S. Prince William 'Willie' McCool (Cygnus XL) freighter was managed by engineering and operations teams from Northrop Grumman in close cooperation with NASA, following adjustments due to an engine performance issue; no single person was explicitly named as commander of the spacecraft in the sources.
The current mission marks the first Cygnus delivery in over a year, since NG-21 reached the ISS in August 2024. The safe arrival of the S.S. Prince William 'Willie' McCool at the ISS was celebrated by NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, who said it was a reminder of the fallen astronaut's courage and kindness.
After its departure from the ISS in March 2026, the S.S. Prince William 'Willie' McCool will deorbit and burn up in Earth's atmosphere. The S.S. Prince William 'Willie' McCool's cargo is intended to contribute significantly to the ongoing research and development on the ISS, paving the way for future advancements in space exploration and the treatment of various diseases.
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