SpaceX Dragon BOOSTS the International Space Station for the first time
On November 8, 2024, at 12:50 PM EST (Friday), NASA and SpaceX teams confirmed that they had tested re-boosting capabilities done by the Crew Dragon spacecraft, which boosted the International Space Station (ISS) to a specific planned orbit. This specific spacecraft was the one launched by the CRS-31 mission by SpaceX, which lifted off on November 4, 2024, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
According to NASA and SpaceX teams, the Draco thrusters on the spacecraft adjusted the Space Station’s orbit by 7/100 of a mile at apogee and 7/10 of a mile at perigee. This specific test lasted for approximately 12 minutes and 30 seconds, which helped boost the station at these orbital parameters stated.
A story of the past
This test proved that the Dragon Spacecraft can boost the Space Station’s orbit, which may also eventually lead to additional attitude control in the future. Before this test, there were only two spacecraft that are capable of doing this maneuver, which are:
Soyuz (Progress) Spacecraft, made by Roscosmos on the Russian side of the ISS.
Cygnus Spacecraft, made by Northrop Grumman on the American side of the ISS.
Adding one more spacecraft adds more reliability and capability to the Space Station's altitude and attitude control, which will be important to the station's future where some spacecraft may stop serving the station due to unforeseen circumstances in the future.
Preparation for a fiery demise
On June 26th, NASA selected SpaceX to make a de-orbit vehicle for the ISS once its operational capabilities had degraded. In theory, this test could have also been done to help SpaceX prepare that specific de-orbit vehicle. Therefore, it adds to the pile of data they could already have for the vehicle, which helps for its future development.
This is KYNNMASTER 123 for The Weekly Spaceman, see you in the next one! 😊
Sources and Credits:
(FIRST PHOTO) @sen on X/Twitter: (2) LIVE: SpaceX's Dragon demonstrates ISS reboost filmed from our 4K cameras on the Space Station / X
NASA Blog Updates: Dragon Spacecraft Boosts Station for First Time – Space Station
@Space_Station (NASA) on X/Twitter: (2) International Space Station on X: ".@NASA and @SpaceX monitored operations as the company’s Dragon spacecraft performed its first demonstration of reboost capabilities for the International Space Station at 12:50pm ET today. https://t.co/jckgtW5pW8" / X
@SpaceX on X/Twitter: (2) SpaceX on X: "Dragon completed its first @Space_Station reboost capability demonstration, firing its Draco thrusters for ~12.5 minutes to adjust the station’s orbit" / X
The Weekly Spaceman: End of an Era - SpaceX Dragon to Deorbit the ISS — The Weekly Spaceman
The Weekly Spaceman: CRS-31: The 31st ISS resupply mission via Dragon — The Weekly Spaceman
