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2w ago

Engine Shutdowns Delay Cygnus XL’s First ISS Rendezvous

NASA is developing a new burn plan after two premature engine shutdowns halted the cargo ship’s approach.

A Falcon 9 lifts off Sept. 14 carrying the NG-23 Cygnus cargo spacecraft built by Northrop Grumman.
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Overview

  • The Northrop Grumman cargo craft launched September 14 on a SpaceX Falcon 9, debuting the lengthened Cygnus XL with roughly one‑third more capacity and carrying about 11,000 pounds of supplies and research to orbit.
  • NASA reported two premature main‑engine shutdowns during orbit‑raising burns on September 16, postponing the planned September 17 Canadarm2 capture while teams assess the issue.
  • All other spacecraft systems are performing normally, and a revised arrival time will be set once an alternate rendezvous sequence is defined.
  • The payload includes cryogenic propellant storage research (ZBOT‑NC), semiconductor materials, a UV water‑microbe control system, and pharmaceutical crystal‑growth studies.
  • Operations call for a temporary unberthing in November to keep the Soyuz MS‑28 approach corridor clear, while the earlier NG‑22 module remains delayed after shipping damage and Northrop continues Falcon 9 launches as Antares 330 targets 2026 readiness.