15/09/2025
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๐๐ฅ๐๐จ๐ง ๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ง๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐จ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฉ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฐ
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched Northrop Grummanโs latest Cygnus cargo spacecraft Sunday evening, delivering more than five tons of supplies, spare parts, and food for the International Space Station (ISS). The spacecraft is expected to rendezvous with the orbiting lab Wednesday morning.
Among the shipment are essentials like nitrogen, oxygen, hardware for the stationโs life-support systems, and critical components for the urine processor, according to NASAโs Dina Contella. After shortages last year, NASA is building up reserves of these items.
The delivery isnโt all businessโastronauts will also receive a range of special holiday foods, including seafood, roast turkey, smoked salmon, candies, cookies, and even ice cream. One unique item is a high schoolโdesigned dish, โshakshuka scramble,โ inspired by a popular North African and Middle Eastern recipe.
The Falcon 9 lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 6:11 p.m. EDT, with its reusable first stage making a precise return landing just minutes later. The Cygnus separated from the second stage about 14 minutes after launch and began its solo journey to the ISS.
This mission marks the debut of the โCygnus XL,โ a stretched version of the spacecraft that is 1.6 meters longer and can haul roughly 2,600 pounds more cargo than earlier models.
The launch comes just days after a Russian Progress freighter arrived at the station carrying fuel, a new spacesuit, and other gear. With this flight, Northrop Grumman has now completed 21 successful Cygnus missions, while SpaceX has flown 32 resupply flights with its Dragon capsules.
