Northrup Grumman Launches Mission to the International Space Station
By Jim Siegel
SpaceX seems to be cornering most of the media attention these days regarding keeping the the International Space Station (ISS) with supplies and astronauts. However, they are not the only game in town. Northrup Grumman also sends cargo capsules to the ISS, their most recent design call Cygnus XL. On Sunday September 14 at 6:11 pm they launched a mission, dubbed NG-23, and named after the late astronaut William McCool, who lost his life on the Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003. NG-23 was propelled into space by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket; it’s first stage returned safely to earth at landing zone 1 about 7 miles from Space Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The ISS has conducted work on more that 4000 experiments since its inception over 20 years ago. NG-23 is bringing several dozen more among its 11,000 pounds of cargo. Among them are:
- Improved semiconductor crystals
- Germicidal ultraviolet light
- Pharmaceutical crystals that may have relevance for cardiovascular and neurogenerative diseases
- How to better keep cryogenic fuels cold.
We have frequently been asked what happens when the ISS goes out of operation in about the year 2030. There is a long line of corporate and educational organizations who wish to send investigations requiring the microgravity offered on the ISS. CASIS, an organization that receives, evaluates, and prioritizes these requests has at least 150 such projects waiting in line for a ride to the ISS.
At least three commercial companies are reportedly working on smaller versions of the space station that would offer living accommodations and work space to accommodate the demand for microgravity environments. There is still uncertainty whether any or all will be up and running by the time the ISS is decommissioned and heads for a watery grave in the South Pacific.
NG-23 is planned to remain at the ISS until it returns to Earth in March of next year carrying another 11,000 pounds of investigation results and waste products.
The Cygnus XL spacecraft was used for the Northrup Grumman mission NG-23 sent on its way to the International Space Station on September 14, 2025 from Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Photo credit: Northrup Grumman.