Northrop Grumman-23 (NG-23), a Cygnus XL Resupply Mission, Launches to the International Space Station
NG-23 © Thales Alenia Space
On September 14, 2025 – NG-23, the first XL version of the Cygnus cargo module, was launched from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. This launch marks a significant milestone in the evolution of resupply missions to the International Space Station (ISS), thanks to the new XL configuration of Cygnus, designed to carry a larger volume of payloads.
With a capacity of 5,000 kg and a volume of 36 m³, the new Cygnus XL increases its transport capacity by 33%, enabling the delivery of more supplies to the space station, as part of NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) program.
The teams in Thales Alenia Space, with commitment and dedication, worked to complete the manufacturing, assembly, integration, and testing of the Pressurized Cargo Module (PCM)-23, ensuring its on-time delivery to Northrop Grumman, as it is a critical component for maintaining the structural integrity and operation of the module during its resupply missions to the space station.
The Cygnus spacecraft comprises two main sections: a Service Module from Northrop Grumman and a Pressurized Cargo Module (PCM) developed and manufactured by Thales Alenia Space.
These resupply missions help sustain life during long-term space missions, with essential resources for crew supplies, operations and cutting-edge scientific research, including experiments that aim to upscale semiconductor production, explore alternative disinfection methods with UV light, and improve pharmaceuticals to treat cancer and other diseases.
The NG-23 mission is named in honor of William "Willie" C. McCool, a naval aviator and NASA astronaut, who piloted the Space Shuttle Columbia on its final mission, STS-107 in 2003. Tragically, he and the crew perished on re-entry, 16 minutes before scheduled landing.
Since 2013, Cygnus has delivered over 71,000 kg of cargo to the space station , and with the new XL version, this capability is further enhanced to support even more ambitious space missions.
In Thales Alenia Space’s Turin plant, the primary structure of NG-24 has already been completed and is ready for testing this fall, while the PCM-25 is already in the welding phase.