Cygnus XL Boosts International Space Station’s Orbit
Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL spacecraft performed an important maneuver today, firing its thrusters for 18 minutes to elevate the International Space Station’s orbit.
Orbit Adjustment Details
The Cygnus XL utilized its gimbaled delta velocity engine to adjust the station’s altitude by 1.5 miles at apogee (the highest point) and 0.8 miles at perigee (the lowest point), resulting in an updated orbit of 265.5 x 256.8 miles.
Cygnus XL Mission Overview
Supporting NASA’s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 24 mission, the Cygnus XL arrived at the station on April 13, delivering over 11,000 pounds of science and supplies. It will stay attached to the station until October, when it will be filled with disposal cargo and then safely burn up upon reentry into Earth’s atmosphere.
Preparing for Crew-13 Mission
This reboost is crucial for phasing NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 mission, scheduled to launch no earlier than October 1 aboard a Dragon spacecraft from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Crew-13 will include NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins (commander) and Luke Delaney (pilot), alongside Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov (mission specialists). They will join Expedition 75 at the space station.
Follow the Space Station
To keep up with station activities, follow the space station blog, @space_station on X, or check out the ISS Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Published: September 25, 2026, 12:18 PM
Author: [Author’s Name]
Image Credit: Author’s Gravatar Image
