SpaceX Dragon spacecraft successfully conducts Space Station reboost test

This demonstration is part of Nasas broader plan to increase the flexibility of ISS operations as the station moves toward its planned deorbiting in 2031. 

In Short

• Spacecraft’s Draco thrusters fire for approximately 12.5 minutes
• Mission part of Nasa’s plan to increase flexibility of ISS operations
• SpaceX to build vehicle to enable Space Station's return to earth in 2031

SpaceX’s Dragon capsule successfully performed a reboost demonstration for the International Space Station (ISS), marking an important advancement in the spacecraft’s operational capabilities.

During the test, the Dragon’s Draco thrusters fired for approximately 12.5 minutes, slightly adjusting the ISS’s orbit by raising its apogee by 0.07 miles and its perigee by 0.7 miles.

This demonstration is part of Nasa’s broader plan to increase the flexibility of ISS operations as the station moves toward its planned deorbiting in 2031.

Historically, only Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus and Russia’s Progress spacecraft have conducted such reboosts, so this marks a significant addition to the Dragon’s functionality. Bill Spetch, Nasa’s ISS operations manager, emphasised the importance of the reboost, noting that it broadens the range of vehicles capable of maintaining the ISS’s stability and readiness in orbit.

Nasa has tasked SpaceX with a critical role in the ISS’s end-of-life plan. The space agency awarded SpaceX an $843 million contract to develop a specialised deorbit vehicle, which will be responsible for guiding the ISS safely back to Earth, mitigating risks to populated regions during re-entry.

The data gathered from the recent reboost test will be essential for the development of this deorbit vehicle, providing SpaceX with insights into the performance of the Draco thrusters and informing future engineering decisions.

Understanding Dragon’s Draco thrusters’ behaviour under these conditions will be instrumental in refining their design for future operations.

As the ISS continues to serve as a hub for international collaboration, the successful reboost test shows SpaceX’s growing role in Nasa’s broader ambitions.

With Nasa’s Artemis program aiming to reach the Moon and eventually Mars, SpaceX’s work in supporting ISS operations is a promising step toward future deep-space exploration efforts.