NASA, in partnership with Northrop Grumman and SpaceX, has moved up preparations for the next commercial cargo delivery to the International Space Station (ISS). The agency is now targeting Sunday, September 14, at 6:11 p.m. EDT for liftoff of a Northrop Grumman Cygnus XL spacecraft aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The launch will take place from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
The Cygnus XL will transport over 11,000 pounds of supplies, research materials, and scientific hardware to support ongoing experiments aboard the orbital laboratory. Among the cargo are:
- Tools for producing semiconductor crystals in microgravity.
- Equipment aimed at enhancing cryogenic fuel storage systems.
- A specialized ultraviolet light unit designed to reduce biofilm growth.
- Materials for developing pharmaceutical crystals with potential applications in treating cancer and other serious illnesses.
If the launch proceeds on schedule, the Cygnus XL is expected to arrive at the ISS and be installed on Wednesday, September 17.
For nearly a quarter century, the ISS has served as a hub of international collaboration, enabling groundbreaking research and technological innovation that cannot be replicated on Earth. The station’s work continues to lay the foundation for future human missions to the Moon and Mars.
