Science & TechSpace
NASA targets November 29 to send cancer and muscle-loss experiments to the space station
Northrop Grumman's 25th NASA cargo flight, a Cygnus XL on a Falcon 9, will carry drug-delivery hardware, a radiation sensor and human muscle cells to the International Space Station.
Key points
- A Falcon 9 is targeted to launch the Cygnus XL no earlier than 10:49 am EST on November 29.
- Cargo includes hardware for making DNA-inspired particles for cancer and osteoarthritis drug delivery.
- The spacecraft will stay at the station until May 2027.
NASA is aiming to launch a fresh load of science and supplies to the International Space Station on Sunday, November 29, at 10:49 am EST, or later if plans change. The Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft will fly on a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
It is the 25th cargo spacecraft Northrop Grumman has built for NASA under contract, and the mission is named CRS-25.
What is on board
Besides food, supplies and equipment for the crew, Cygnus carries several experiments. One is hardware for making tiny, DNA-inspired particles that could improve how drugs are delivered for cancer and osteoarthritis. Another is a study that may help guide cancer treatment by predicting whether a patient’s cancer will spread.
Researchers will also test human muscle cells and medications aimed at muscle loss, a known problem for astronauts in long spaceflight. A compact radiation sensor is meant to improve crew safety.
Arrival and stay
After launch, astronauts will use the station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm to capture Cygnus and attach it to the Earth-facing port of the Unity module. The spacecraft is planned to stay until May 2027.
US media must apply for accreditation by 11:59 pm EST on Thursday, November 12. The date is a target and can move with weather and range schedules.
The documents
- NASA Invites Media to Northrop Grumman CRS-25 Station Resupply LaunchNASA, November 2, 2026