## NASA's Cygnus XL Spacecraft Successfully Docked with ISS **News Title:** Robotic Arm Maneuvering Cygnus for Station Installation **Publisher:** NASA **Author:** Mark A. Garcia **Publication Date:** September 18, 2025 ### Summary of Key Information: NASA's coverage detailed the successful installation of Northrop Grumman's Cygnus XL spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS). The event was broadcast on platforms including NASA+, Amazon Prime, and social media. **Key Events and Statistics:** * **Capture Time:** At **7:24 a.m. EDT** on September 18, 2025, NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, with NASA astronaut Zena Cardman as backup, utilized the ISS's **Canadarm2 robotic arm** to capture the Cygnus XL spacecraft. * **Cargo Capacity:** The Cygnus XL is delivering **over 11,000 pounds** of scientific investigations and cargo to the ISS. * **Launch Details:** The spacecraft was launched on **September 14, 2025, at 6:11 p.m. EDT** aboard a **SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket** from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. * **Duration at ISS:** The Cygnus XL is scheduled to remain at the space station until **March 2026**. * **Disposal Plan:** Upon departure, the Cygnus XL will dispose of **several thousand pounds of trash** by burning up during its re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. **Further Information and Engagement:** For ongoing updates on station activities, NASA encourages following: * The space station blog. * X accounts: **@NASASpaceOps** and **@space_station**. * Facebook and Instagram accounts for the ISS. **Contextual Interpretation:** The successful capture and installation of the Cygnus XL represent a critical step in the ongoing resupply missions to the ISS. The **Canadarm2**, a sophisticated robotic arm, is essential for these delicate operations, allowing astronauts to remotely maneuver and attach visiting spacecraft. The **11,000+ pounds of cargo** highlights the vital role these missions play in sustaining scientific research and operations aboard the orbiting laboratory. The extended stay until **March 2026** and the planned disposal method underscore the logistical planning involved in long-term space missions. The launch on a **SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket** signifies the continued partnership with commercial space providers for NASA's resupply needs.
Robotic Arm Maneuvering Cygnus for Station Installation - NASA
Read original at NASA →NASA’s coverage is underway for the installation of Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL spacecraft to the International Space Station on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and more. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of platforms, including social media. At 7:24 a.m. EDT, NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, with NASA astronaut Zena Cardman acting as backup, captured the Cygnus XL spacecraft using the International Space Station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm.
The spacecraft is carrying more than 11,000 pounds of scientific investigations and cargo to the orbiting laboratory. It launched at 6:11 p.m. EDT on Sept. 14 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Cygnus XL will remain at the space station until March 2026, when it will depart and dispose of several thousand pounds of trash by burning up during re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere.
Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @NASASpaceOps and @space_station on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.
