Cygnus XL prepares to leave the ISS after the CRS-23 delivery

NASA announced departure arrangements for Northrop Grumman’s CRS-23 Cygnus XL on 6 March 2026. Canadarm2 release was targeted for 12 March at 7 a.m. EDT, monitored by ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot. The vehicle would be detached from Unity and released by the robotic arm. This is not autonomous undocking. CRS-23’s 2025 launch is background, not a second 2026 launch event. The first Cygnus XL delivered approximately 11,000 pounds of supplies. Controlled disposal was planned for 14 March; neither departure nor re-entry was established as complete by this notice. Departure frees a station interface and enables waste disposal. No unverified source photograph is reused.