Space Station(NASA)
The Dragon cargo plane connected to the International Space Station (ISS) will fire its engines for 12.5 minutes on Friday (Nov 8), NASA officials said. Other spacecraft have done this before, but this would be a first for a SpaceX capsule—an important step toward developing a larger version of Dragon that will eventually propel the ISS into its final phase.
“The data we collect from this reboost and attitude control demonstration will be very useful… and this data will support future capabilities, especially the US deorbit vehicle,” said Jared Metter, director of flight reliability at SpaceX.
In July, SpaceX was named as the company that will deorbit the ISS no earlier than 2030, when a new commercial space station will be ready to replace the aging ISS. SpaceX will use a larger version of the Dragon for this mission, so increasing the altitude of the ISS using the current generation of Dragon would be very useful.
The ISS is in low Earth orbit, about 400 km above our planet. Earth’s scattered atmospheric molecules cause the station to slowly descend, so the spacecraft is needed to “reboost” or push the ISS to a higher altitude.
Traditionally, Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft have fulfilled this reboost function, but the situation is changing. Russia remains a partner in the ISS after its unauthorized invasion of Ukraine in 2022; although most other international space agreements are broken, the ISS is a policy project and cannot operate as a separate unit, NASA stressed.
Russia plans to move forward with its own space station as early as 2028, which is far before the ISS partner’s other commitments expire in 2030. If Russia backs out, that would mean another vehicle would have to replace the Soyuz. NASA has tested a reboost using Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus cargo plane in 2022. Now it’s SpaceX’s turn.
“This is a great demonstration,” Metter said of the reboot. He did not have an expected delta v figure or the thrust per unit mass of the aircraft that this maneuver would provide, but stressed the duration would be sufficient to “gather a lot of data” for the US deorbit vehicle.
SpaceX’s historic push of the ISS will come after several issues with the company’s hardware, which NASA and the company say are unrelated. This issue caused disruptions during Falcon 9 rocket launches and landings, as well as Dragon landings in recent weeks.
All issues were resolved quickly with no impact to crew or public safety, and NASA officials expressed confidence in SpaceX’s capabilities after working with the company to review its performance.
“We are working very closely with SpaceX on everything related to this Dragon launch. They share data with us freely, and we address all issues together,” Bill Spetch, NASA’s ISS program operations and integration manager, told reporters in a teleconference on Monday.
“We have always kept the safety of vehicles heading to the ISS a top priority, and that has not changed for us,” he added.
The Falcon 9 rocket, which is the most productive and successful booster in history, experienced three launch problems between mid-July and late September. The first problem on July 11 caused 20 Starlink internet satellites to be lost after a propellant leak in the upper stage.
The Falcon 9 returned to flight two weeks later after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which oversees launch regulatory activities, approved SpaceX’s plan.
On August 28, the Falcon 9 experienced a second problem; the first stage did not land as planned after a successful Starlink launch. SpaceX returned to flying three days later, but on September 28, the Falcon 9 was again detained on Earth after problems with the upper stage when launching NASA’s Crew-9 ISS astronaut mission.
Rockets were again put on hold for two weeks, except for the launch of Europe’s Hera asteroid inspection probe on October 7, which received an FAA exemption. The Falcon 9 returned to flight on October 11 and has successfully launched several times in recent weeks.
“We investigate each of these anomalies independently, but also look for any connections,” Metter said. “We found no linkages, common themes, or systemic problems associated with these anomalies.”
The independent Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel for NASA, however, expressed concern with this incident along with a minor problem during the landing of the Crew Dragon with four Crew-8 astronauts on October 25, according to SpaceNews. The parachute and drogue experienced a slight timing anomaly that had no impact on the crew’s return.
A NASA Crew-8 astronaut experienced an undisclosed health problem after landing that required him to be hospitalized overnight; he was released the next day. NASA stressed that the landing was “nominal” from an engineering perspective. NASA also did not link the medical incident to Dragon’s performance.
However, the safety panel emphasized that spaceflight requires constant vigilance to ensure astronaut and mission safety, and urged that neither NASA nor SpaceX reduce their monitoring practices.
“When looking at recent incidents over the past few weeks, this shows that safe operations require detailed attention as hardware ages and operations tempo increases,” Kent Rominger, a former space shuttle astronaut who served on the panel, said in a telephone meeting on October 31 attended by SpaceNews.
“Both NASA and SpaceX need to remain focused on safe Crew Dragon operations and not assume ‘normal’ in any operation,” Rominger added, but neither he nor any of the other panel members provided specific recommendations or suggestions. (Space/Z-3)
SpaceX Dragon to the Rescue: A Boost for the ISS
Well, grab your helmets and space snacks because the Dragon cargo plane is about to do some serious boosting for the International Space Station (ISS). On November 8, NASA has confirmed that the Dragon will fire its engines for a whopping 12.5 minutes. That’s right! Nothing says “I love you” like a 12.5-minute engine burn to elevate our home in space. And let’s be honest, if that doesn’t get you feeling warm and fuzzy inside, I don’t know what will!
Now, why is this a big deal? Because this is the first time a SpaceX capsule is performing this maneuver! That might make you think, “Didn’t other spacecraft do this before?” Yes, yes they did—cue the applause for the Russians and their trusty Soyuz. But in space, competition is the name of the game, and this time, the US is stepping up to the plate with a cheerfully entrepreneurial twist!
The Importance of Data
According to Jared Metter, the director of flight reliability at SpaceX (which I can only assume is a title held by someone wearing an adorable space-themed necktie), the data collected from this maneuver will be “very useful.” I mean, we are in an era where the mere mention of “data” sends shivers down the spines of tech enthusiasts everywhere. This data will not just sit around collecting digital dust; it aims to foster future capabilities—especially to ensure our beloved ISS doesn’t just fall out of the sky when SpaceX plans to deorbit it around 2030. Can you imagine the headlines? “ISS Crashes in Backyard, Homeowner Wins $1,000 Settlement!”
Goodbye Soyuz, Hello Commercial Space Station!
Speaking of deorbit, SpaceX has been named the lucky company responsible for sending the ISS to its proverbial retirement party no earlier than 2030, thanks to a new commercial space station taking its place. That’s a bit like getting a fancy new car while the old clunker is parked out back with its wheels missing. And while we love the Soyuz, it looks like the Russians are planning to exit stage left with their own ambitions of a space station by 2028. If they get cold feet, good ol’ NASA will have to find an alternative to the Soyuz for the reboost duties.
But don’t worry, NASA has tested the Cygnus cargo plane for this purpose, so it’s not like we’re stuck in an Apollo 13 situation—fingers crossed!
Safety First (Again!)
It’s all well and good for SpaceX to be doing their engine burn, but let’s not forget about safety. Recent hardware issues have plagued the company, which probably caused some office gossip about “safety audits” and “emergency taco nights.” NASA officials expressed confidence in SpaceX’s abilities but insist on keeping that vigilance dialed up to eleven. It’s a bit like a pilot trying to manage turbulence while avoiding stomach-churning snacks—always ready for anything!
And let’s not forget the words of wisdom from the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel. They warned: “Spaceflight requires constant vigilance.” That’s right, folks—a friendly reminder that space isn’t just a leisurely walk in the park; it’s more like a high-stakes game of dodgeball with asteroids, technical failures, and, you know, the void of space itself.
The Bottom Line
So, as the Dragon revs up its engines (in a very sci-fi kind of way), let’s appreciate the marvel of human ingenuity—and a sprinkle of cosmic cheekiness. NASA and SpaceX are working closely to ensure the skies are safer than ever, while also keeping an eye on those pesky hardware problems. Whatever happens, let’s just hope the ISS doesn’t get too comfortable in its orbit; we wouldn’t want it getting lazy now, would we?
The next time they need a boost for the ISS. In the meantime, they’ll be relying on SpaceX to test their capabilities and gather essential data.
Boosting the ISS
So, what exactly does this “reboost” mean for the ISS? Well, the International Space Station orbits approximately 400 kilometers above Earth, and thanks to atmospheric drag, it’s constantly losing altitude. Without regular reboost maneuvers, the ISS would eventually descend too low and could even potentially re-enter the atmosphere prematurely. Traditionally, this task was handled by Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft, but with changing international dynamics and plans for new space stations, it’s time for the USA to take the reins.
The Future is Bright
As SpaceX gears up for this historic mission, it’s also essential to note that recent challenges with their Falcon 9 rocket have been addressed. Despite temporary setbacks due to issues that NASA assures are unrelated to the safety of crew missions, SpaceX has continued to prove its reliability in space operations. With a partnership that emphasizes data-sharing and cooperative problem-solving, both NASA and SpaceX are navigating the complexities of modern space travel while keeping safety as their top priority.
A Collaborative Effort
The road ahead for SpaceX and the ISS is filled with excitement as they push the boundaries of human presence in space. As the potential for new commercial space ventures unfolds, including the promise of SpaceX’s future missions, there is an undeniable sense of optimism. So, as we await the reboost maneuver and the invaluable data it will yield, one thing is clear: The collaboration between SpaceX, NASA, and international partners will shape the future of space exploration, transitioning smoothly from the old ways of Soyuz to the innovative solutions of modern commercial spaceflight.
With all this in mind, it’s safe to say that as we look towards the stars, the future of the ISS and beyond is brighter than ever.
