Running a day behind schedule due to a software issue, Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL cargo freighter successfully reached the International Space Station (ISS) early Thursday, concluding its maiden mission with a smooth robotic capture.
NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, operated the space station’s robot arm, latched onto the Cygnus XL cargo ship to wrap up an extended rendezvous. Image: NASA
The spacecraft had originally attempted to rendezvous on Tuesday, but overly sensitive fault detection software prematurely shut down its main engine during thruster burns. Engineers later determined the engine was functioning properly and fine-tuned the software parameters, clearing the way for Thursday’s approach.
Guided to a hold point just below the orbiting laboratory, Cygnus was captured at 7:24 a.m. EDT by the station’s Canadarm2, operated by astronaut Jonny Kim with support from crewmate Zena Cardman. “Adapting and overcoming unforeseen challenges is something we do at NASA,” Kim radioed to mission control, congratulating both NASA and Northrop Grumman teams.
Unlike SpaceX’s Dragon and Russia’s Progress vehicles, which autonomously dock to the ISS, Cygnus missions require robotic capture before being berthed. After Kim’s initial operation, ground controllers at NASA’s Johnson Space Center took over, maneuvering the spacecraft into its berth on the Unity module’s Earth-facing port.
This Cygnus XL carries more than 5 tons of supplies, scientific experiments, and spare parts—critical for the station’s ongoing operations. The manifest includes nitrogen, oxygen, food, toilet components, and replacement parts for key life-support systems like the urine processor. “We’re stocking up since we were short over the past year,” explained Dina Contella, deputy program manager for the ISS, noting that an earlier Cygnus was damaged during transport and remains grounded.
The mission also delivered holiday treats for the crew, along with vital reserves to sustain future research activities.
This flight marked the debut of the upgraded Cygnus XL, which is about 5 feet longer than its predecessor and can carry an additional 2,600 pounds of cargo. NASA relies on both Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus and SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft for resupply under its commercial cargo program. To date, SpaceX has flown 32 successful Dragon missions, while Cygnus has now completed 21.
True to tradition, Northrop Grumman named this Cygnus after a fallen space hero: shuttle pilot William “Willie” McCool, who perished in the 2003 Columbia disaster. Astronaut Mike Fincke, a classmate of McCool, reflected: “He was a gifted pilot, a devoted crewmate, and a man of deep humility. To see a ship bearing his name safely arrive is a reminder that his courage and kindness are still circling our beautiful planet.”
Bill Spetch, NASA’s operations integration manager, emphasized the importance of the mission: “This great capability that Cygnus brings—and the amount of cargo it carries—is critical to keep us running smoothly and doing the research we need.”
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