Northrop Grumman Cygnus resupply mission for NASA set to launch from Cape CanaveralBrooke Edwards, Florida Today
Florida TodayFri, September 12, 2025 at 6:03 AM EDT
2 min read
If weather cooperates, the Space Coast will cap the weekend with the latest resupply mission launched to the space station, along with a rattling sonic boom.
NASA’s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 23 mission is set to lift off no earlier than 6:11 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14 from Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The mission will carry supplies up to NASA's astronauts onboard the International Space Station packed in a Northrop Grumman Cygnus XL spacecraft. It will be launched atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
Due to the Cygnus spacecraft heading for the space station, the launch must go right on time or SpaceX will have to stand down for the day.
The spacecraft will be delivering more than 11,000 pounds of food, supplies, and science to the astronauts onboard the station. Northrop Grumman CRS-23 will be the first flight of the company's new Cygnus XL spacecraft. It is referred to as a solar powered, larger and more capable cargo spacecraft compared to previous models of the Cygnus, which flew multiple NASA resupply missions in the past.
According to NASA, Northrop Grumman named the spacecraft the S.S. William “Willie” McCool, in memory of the pilot of the ill-fated STS-107 space shuttle Columbia accident in 2003. All seven astronauts lost their lives when the shuttle broke apart during reentry.
Space Coast be aware: this launch will bring a sonic boom. The Falcon 9 rocket's booster will land back at Cape Canaveral Landing Zone 2, and due to the close proximity, Brevard County will hear a thunderous sound shortly after the landing.
The Cygnus will arrive at the space station no earlier than Wednesday, Sept. 17. Unlike SpaceX's Dragon, which docks without assistance, astronauts onboard must use the Canadarm2 to grab hold of the spacecraft and manually dock it.
The science onboard includes investigations into semiconductor crystals for future space technologies, decreasing harmful bacteria, managing fuel pressure, and how microgravity may improve medication production.
Originally owned and operated by Orbital Sciences, Northrop Grumman purchased the rights to the Cygnus spacecraft in 2018.
The FLORIDA TODAY Space Team will provide live coverage beginning two hours prior to liftoff at
FloridaToday.com/Space.
Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@floridatoday.com or on X: @brookeofstars.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: ISS bound, Northrop Grumman Cygnus to launch on SpaceX rocket Sunday
Random quote
