SpaceX initiates the liftoff of a novel spacecraft bound for the International Space Station (ISS)
SpaceX Successfully Launches Larger Cygnus XL Spacecraft to ISS
In a significant milestone for space travel, SpaceX has successfully launched Northrop Grumman's Cygnus XL spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS) in the CRS-23 mission. The launch took place from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Sunday evening.
This was the fourth flight of this particular first-stage booster, which landed successfully eight minutes after launch at Landing Zone 2 (LZ-2) at Cape Canaveral, in line with SpaceX's reusable spaceflight system. The booster can now be refurbished and launched again on future missions.
The new Cygnus XL spacecraft is larger than its predecessor and can carry up to 11,000 pounds (about 5,000 kg) of supplies, which is 33% more than the last version. This increased capacity will allow for the delivery of significantly more science and a lot more cargo prelaunch, driving down the cost per kilogram to NASA, as stated by Ryan Tinter, vice president of Civil Space Systems for Northrop Grumman.
The Cygnus XL does not dock autonomously but is captured by the station's Canadarm2 robotic arm and then berthed to the station's Unity module. The spacecraft is scheduled to berth with the ISS at 6:35 a.m. ET on Wednesday, September 17.
However, NASA has revealed an issue with the new ISS-bound cargo ship, but further details about the issue were not provided in the article.
Northrop Grumman developed the Cygnus XL, and it flew the NG-23 mission to the ISS, delivering over 11,000 pounds of scientific experiments, equipment, and supplies to support Expedition 73. The company's aim with the new Cygnus XL is to be ready with commercial and economic options to get a lot of capability and a lot of equipment into space for the future of commercial low-Earth orbit, as Tinter mentioned.
A video of the Falcon 9 rocket blasting off the launchpad is available for those interested in witnessing the spectacular event. The Cygnus XL spacecraft carried cargo for the ISS and, once it completes its mission, can stay at the orbital outpost for up to 200 days before it departs and then disintegrates as it enters Earth's atmosphere at high speed.
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