Thruster anomaly delays inaugural Cygnus XL (NG‑23) rendezvous with ISS

NASA and Northrop Grumman have delayed the NG‑23 Cygnus XL's planned Sept. 17 rendezvous with the International Space Station after the spacecraft's thrusters did not operate properly during two orbit‑raising burns roughly 48 hours into its three‑day cruise. Flight controllers are revising the rendezvous profile and evaluating alternate burns.

Discovered 2025-09-16T15:02:38.000860-07:00 | 2025-09-16T15:02:38.000860-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

  • On‑orbit propulsion anomaly: Cygnus XL missed two orbit‑raising burns about 48 hours after launch, prompting a slip of the Sept. 17 capture; the vehicle launched Sept. 14 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 carrying about 11,000 lb (≈5 tonnes) of cargo (see launch details: https://hype.aero/?story=656784c7-16ed-46c0-868c-fd63f6507732).
  • Operational and supplier implications: flight controllers are revising the rendezvous plan and assessing alternate burns — a reliability event for Northrop Grumman that follows other recent propulsion challenges in the company’s programs, including a BOLE booster static‑fire test where a nozzle detached (context: https://hype.aero/?story=41a2cbb0-77d7-4121-b929-9870461d8830).

Reported By

news.ssbcrack.com ns1.haber.aero orlandosentinel.com Space Explored webpronews.com Fox Weather
Sources Tracked
31
First Seen
2025-09-16T15:02:38.000860-07:00
Latest Update
2025-09-21T11:36:46.582639-07:00
Coverage
Space

Sources

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