SpaceX successfully launched a new resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The Dragon cargo capsule carried more than 5,000 pounds of supplies, including food, equipment, and science experiments necessary for the crew to work and live in orbit.
The launch took place from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and marks the 33rd mission under NASA's long-term Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-33) contract with SpaceX.
Autonomous capsule and Falcon 9 return
The Dragon spacecraft, known for its autonomous navigation and reentry capabilities, is a key component in ISS logistics. The Falcon 9 rocket that carried the capsule into space consisted of a reusable first stage — which, eight and a half minutes after launch, successfully landed on SpaceX's unmanned platform in the Atlantic Ocean. This was the seventh flight and landing of the same rocket stage, demonstrating the success of SpaceX's reusability concept.
Boosting the ISS Orbit
In addition to delivering supplies, Dragon will also perform an important task – boosting the ISS orbit. Due to the constant drag of rarefied air at an altitude of about 400 kilometers above Earth, the station descends over time, so such corrections are crucial to maintaining its stability and safety.
A future for the station without Russia?
Concerns about the future of the ISS have been further highlighted by the possibility that Russia could leave the program by 2028. In response, NASA has hired SpaceX and Northrop Grumman to help keep the station operational until at least 2030 or even 2031.
Missions like CRS-33 are crucial to ensuring the continuity of scientific research in space and maintaining humanity's presence in low Earth orbit.