SpaceX Blasts Off NG-23 Journey to ISS Utilizing Innovative Cygnus XL Cargo Vessel
SpaceX Launches Northrop Grumman's NG-23 Resupply Mission to ISS
SpaceX has successfully launched Northrop Grumman's NG-23 resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on September 14, 2023. The mission marks a significant milestone for both SpaceX and Northrop Grumman, as the Falcon 9 rocket carried the new Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft, named after Mary Golda Ross, the first known Native American female engineer.
The Falcon 9 rocket took off from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Following stage separation, the booster landed successfully on Landing Zone 2 at Cape Canaveral, marking its fourth successful landing. The Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft, capable of hauling up to 11,000 pounds (4,990 kg) of supplies to orbit, is Northrop Grumman's biggest cargo ship yet.
Upon arrival at the ISS, the spacecraft will be captured by Canadarm2 and berthed to the orbiting lab. The NG-23 mission carries a variety of science payloads, including materials for producing semiconductor crystals in microgravity, tools for improving cryogenic fuel tanks, a UV system to combat microbial growth in water, and pharmaceutical crystal experiments that could lead to new cancer treatments.
Meanwhile, SpaceX is planning for the future. The company aims to begin launching its Starship V3 vehicle on heavy flights in 2026. SpaceX also plans to attempt its first-ever "catch" of the fully reusable Starship V3 in the same year.
In a separate development, SpaceX launched 24 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California earlier the same day, marking its milestone 300th Starlink mission.
The S.S. William "Willie" McCool, a NASA astronaut who perished in the 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia accident, is scheduled to arrive at the ISS on September 17. Upon arrival, the spacecraft will be berthed to the ISS, honouring the memory of a brave astronaut.
The Falcon 9 booster supporting NG-23 had previously launched Ax-4, Crew-11, and a Starlink mission. After detachment in March 2026, Cygnus will burn up in Earth's atmosphere. The spacecraft's mission to the ISS is expected to last until March 2026.
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