NASA has finalized its coverage plans for the upcoming Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-23) mission, which will deliver critical scientific equipment and supplies to the International Space Station (ISS). The launch is scheduled for Sunday, September 14 at 6:11 p.m. EDT, from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
The mission will be carried out by Northrop Grumman in partnership with SpaceX, using a Falcon 9 rocket to deploy the newly upgraded Cygnus XL spacecraft. This marks the first flight of Cygnus XL, designed to carry heavier payloads and support expanded research capabilities aboard the ISS.
NASA confirmed that the spacecraft will be captured by the station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm on Wednesday, September 17, and will be berthed to the Unity module’s Earth-facing port.
The CRS-23 mission will deliver more than 11,000 pounds of cargo, including:
- Advanced semiconductor crystal growth experiments
- Cryogenic fuel tank prototypes for future space missions
- UV-based water purification systems
- Pharmaceutical crystal research aimed at cancer treatment
In tribute to astronaut William “Willie” McCool, who perished in the Columbia shuttle disaster in 2003, NASA has named the spacecraft S.S. Willie McCool.
Live coverage of the launch, docking, and science briefings will be available on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and NASA’s official social media channels. A prelaunch science briefing is scheduled for September 10, followed by a media teleconference on September 12.
The CRS-23 mission underscores NASA’s commitment to advancing space-based research and maintaining continuous support for the ISS’s multinational crew.