CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — After a suspense-filled day of uncertainty, Northrop Grumman's Cygnus cargo ship has finally docked with the International Space Station (ISS) following a premature engine shutdown that delayed its arrival.

Astronauts on the ISS skillfully maneuvered the space station's robotic arm to capture the Cygnus capsule as it floated above Africa, marking the successful completion of this critical resupply mission.

Originally scheduled to arrive a day earlier, the 11,000-pound (5,000-kilogram) cargo was meant to reach the ISS on Wednesday, just three days after its launch from Florida. However, complications arose when the capsule's main engine unexpectedly shut down too early during its ascent. Engineers pinpointed the issue to an overly cautious software setting that caused the hiccup.

This mission marks the inaugural flight of the new extra-large Cygnus variant, laden with vital supplies, ranging from food to scientific experiments, as well as equipment for maintaining the space station's toilet and various other systems. NASA has contracts not only with Northrop Grumman but also with SpaceX to ensure that the ISS remains stocked and operational, while Russia and Japan also contribute to its supply chain.

In honor of history, Northrop Grumman has named this latest capsule the S.S. Willie McCool, paying tribute to the pilot of the ill-fated 2003 space shuttle Columbia.

Stay tuned as humanity continues to push the boundaries of space exploration!