Dragon's New Job: Moving the Space Station

On Tuesday, a SpaceX Cargo Dragon spacecraft docked at the International Space Station (ISS), just under a day after its launch from Florida. This mission, like many before it, delivered around 2, 700 kilograms of supplies and science experiments to the orbiting laboratory. With this voyage, SpaceX has successfully completed 31 cargo supply missions for NASA over nearly 12 years. But this flight stood out. For the first time, NASA and SpaceX are planning a "reboost and attitude control demonstration" on Friday. This test will involve the Dragon spacecraft using its thrusters to move the ISS. Each Dragon has 16 thrusters, known as Dracos, which provide about 40 kilograms of thrust each. Some are placed at the top or nose of the craft for orbit adjustments and de-orbit burns. But this demo will use the rear thrusters, usually reserved for orbital maneuvers.The upcoming burn is expected to last 12. 5 minutes. According to Jared Metter, SpaceX’s director of flight reliability, the data collected from this test will help improve future spacecraft design, particularly the US Deorbit vehicle. “This isn’t just about moving the space station, ” said NASA’s Bill Spetch, space station operations integration manager. “It’s about learning how to enhance all the vehicles working on the ISS. ” By pushing the limits of the Dragon spacecraft, NASA and SpaceX are exploring new ways to maintain and control the ISS. The success of this test could open doors to more efficient and innovative space operations.