Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft, after successfully delivering over 11,000 pounds of supplies and scientific equipment to the International Space Station (ISS), is set to depart on Friday, October 9, as part of the company’s Commercial Resupply Services-24 mission, also known as Northrop Grumman CRS-24.
The departure will be broadcast live by NASA starting at 12:30 p.m. EDT across various platforms. Viewers can access the live stream through NASA’s official website.
Operational Procedures for Departure
Ground control will instruct the Canadarm2 robotic arm aboard the ISS to release the Cygnus XL from the Unity module’s Earth-facing port, positioning it for release at approximately 12:45 p.m. NASA astronaut Luke Delaney will oversee the operation from within the space station.
Following its departure, the Cygnus XL spacecraft is scheduled for deorbit on Monday, October 12, resulting in a controlled re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, where it will disintegrate safely. NASA will not provide coverage of this event.
Launch Details
The Cygnus XL spacecraft was launched on April 11 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This mission highlights the ongoing collaboration between NASA and commercial partners to support ISS operations.
For additional information regarding the Northrop Grumman CRS-24 mission, more details are available on NASA’s official website.
Source: NASA. Photo: NASA.
