The International Space Station just got a little lift, courtesy of SpaceX’s Dragon cargo craft.
On Wednesday, 3rd September, a Dragon cargo spacecraft fired up two of its Draco thrusters for just over five minutes, nudging the orbiting laboratory a little farther from Earth. According to NASA, the manoeuvre raised the ISS to an orbit of 260.9 by 256.3 miles (419.9 by 412 km).
A One-Mile Boost to the ISS
The ISS generally cruises at about 250 miles (400 km) above Earth, but it doesn’t stay there on its own. Even at that altitude, traces of Earth’s atmosphere tug the station downward, meaning it needs a periodic boost to keep from spiralling closer to home. For decades, that job has mostly fallen to Russia’s Progress resupply ships. But with Russia signalling it could leave the program by 2028 and the ISS itself slated for retirement around 2030, NASA is looking at other options.
Those options are SpaceX and Northrop Grumman. Both companies operate U.S. cargo craft to the station, and NASA has asked each to show they can handle reboost duties. SpaceX’s first attempt took place on 8th November, 2024. This week’s burn marked another successful step.
NASA officials noted that Dragon’s new “boost kit” will allow for longer thruster burns in the months ahead, helping the orbiting complex maintain its altitude throughout the fall. It’s not just about staying in orbit, though. The agency is also testing the capabilities needed for a much bigger job…safely deorbiting the ISS when its mission finally comes to an end. In 2024, NASA tapped SpaceX to design a heavy-duty Dragon capable of bringing the massive station down in a controlled descent.
This particular Dragon isn’t just boosting orbits. It arrived on Aug. 25 carrying more than 5,000 pounds (2,270 kilograms) of supplies and experiments as part of SpaceX’s 33rd Commercial Resupply Services mission (CRS-33). The spacecraft will remain docked until late December or possibly early January, when it will load up with completed experiments and discarded equipment for return to Earth. Its splashdown is expected off the coast of California.
SpaceX is now playing a central role in making sure humanity’s outpost in orbit stays exactly where it needs to be.
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