SpaceX took a big step forward today with the launch of a large cargo ship, marking another major milestone. A Falcon 9 rocket is set to lift off from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Saturday at 7:41 a.m. EDT to deliver Northrop Grumman’s second Cygnus XL cargo ship to the International Space Station (ISS).
Live coverage begins via NASA at 7:20 a.m. EDT (1120 GMT). The designation “XL” reflects the spacecraft’s significantly increased payload; while the original Cygnus version maxed out at 8,500 pounds, the upgraded XL model can carry approximately 11,000 pounds.
This extra space ensures that more ambitious scientific research can reach the laboratory in orbit around the Earth. The station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm will grab the vehicle to start the docking process. Under a standard mission profile, the freighter is expected to remain attached to the station for several months before departure.
Cygnus is part of an international fleet of four robotic spacecraft serving the ISS, alongside Russia’s Progress, Japan’s HTV-X and SpaceX’s Dragon. Unlike the reusable SpaceX Dragon, the Cygnus XL is a ‘one-way vehicle’. After completing its stay and being loaded with waste from the station, it will perform a controlled de-orbit, burning up completely in Earth’s atmosphere. This fiery conclusion mirrors the end of the first successful XL mission, which left the station in March 2026.
