Supply Ship Successfully Docks at International Space Station After Delay
A Northrop Grumman cargo spacecraft successfully reached the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday, delivering thousands of pounds of supplies after a one-day delay caused by an engine shutdown.
The Cygnus capsule, carrying nearly 11,000 pounds (5,000 kilograms) of food, scientific experiments, and essential equipment, was captured by astronauts using the station’s robotic arm as the two spacecraft passed over Africa.
Originally scheduled to arrive on Wednesday, the mission faced a setback when the capsule’s main engine shut down earlier than expected during an orbit-raising maneuver. Engineers later identified the issue as a software setting that was too conservative, preventing the capsule from climbing higher as planned.
This mission marked the debut of the extra-large version of the Cygnus spacecraft. Along with regular supplies, the shipment included spare parts and upgrades for the ISS’s life-support systems, including its toilets.
NASA relies on both Northrop Grumman and SpaceX for regular resupply missions to keep the space station operational. Russia also continues its cargo deliveries, while Japan is preparing to resume supply missions in the near future.
In a tribute, Northrop Grumman named this capsule S.S. Willie McCool in honor of the pilot from the 2003 Columbia space shuttle mission.
With the successful docking, astronauts aboard the ISS can now begin unloading critical supplies that will support ongoing experiments and daily life on the orbiting laboratory.
