SpaceX’s Dragon cargo capsule leaves the International Space Station today (February 26), and you can watch its departure live.
dragon arrived in international space station The International Space Station (ISS) delivered approximately 5,000 pounds (2,270 kilograms) of supplies and scientific equipment to the orbiting laboratory’s astronauts on August 25. This was the 33rd time such a robot has transported cargo. space x Participated in NASA’s Commercial Supply Services Program.
The capsule also performed other useful tasks during its current mission, known as CRS-33.
For example, “new capabilities to restart the space station will be introduced to help maintain altitude and counter atmospheric drag, which is critical for safe operations and the long-term sustainability of the orbital complex,” NASA officials said. Monday’s statement (February 23).
“While docked at the station, Dragon performed six restarts (five in 2025, with the last maneuver on January 23) before preparations for departure began,” they added.
Such re-strengthening has historically been carried out by Russia. progress cargo ship. However, it is unclear whether Russia will do so. Continue to be an ISS partner During the lifetime of the orbiting laboratory, which is scheduled to deorbit in late 2030.
If Russia leaves the consortium early, other revitalization methods will be needed. Dragon has just shown it can handle the job, and Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus Cargo ships did likewise.
Progress, Cygnus, and Japan HTV-X All spacecraft (and other ISS cargo ships currently in operation) are designed to burn up. earth’s atmosphere when their mission is over. However, since the Dragon is reusable, it can also carry cargo downwards. And we’re bringing back a lot of equipment to round out CRS-33.
For example, Dragon is taking over experiments from the Euromaterials Aging Study, which “exposed 141 samples to space for a year to examine how coatings, insulation, and 3D printed materials degrade,” NASA officials said in the same statement.
They added that they were also transporting material from a liquid crystal experiment in Thailand that “observed the stability of films used in electronics in microgravity.” “Both could lead to more powerful spacecraft, better displays, and improved optics for future missions.”
If all goes according to plan, the CRS-33 Dragon is scheduled to splash down under a parachute in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California around 2:44 a.m. ET (7:44 GMT) on Friday (February 27). Reentry and splashdown will not be livestreamed.