SpaceX is set to perform a first-of-its-kind maneuver on November 8, in which its Dragon cargo capsule will “reboost” the International Space Station (ISS). The 12.5-minute engine burn will propel the ISS to higher altitudes, addressing gradual orbital decay caused by Earth’s atmospheric drag. This task has traditionally been managed by Russian Soyuz vehicles, but the boost by the SpaceX capsule marks a change in ISS maintenance responsibilities.
Reboot to collect data for future operations
According to a report by Space.com, data from this reboost will support the design of a larger SpaceX Dragon vehicle, intended to deorbit the ISS in the early 2030s, when its mission ends. According to Jared Mater, SpaceX’s Director of Flight Reliability, the results of this reboost test will inform future development for a U.S.-led deorbit vehicle that will be necessary as the ISS ages and new commercial stations become operational.
Despite tensions, US-Russian cooperation on ISS continues
While Russian Soyuz spacecraft have traditionally handled ISS altitude adjustments, changing political dynamics have affected international space cooperation. The ISS remains an exception, with Russian and American entities working together to maintain its operations. If Russia moves forward with its own space station project, which is planned to launch before 2028, additional spacecraft such as Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus and SpaceX’s Dragon will be needed to replace the Soyuz.
SpaceX’s record of recent hardware challenges
SpaceX’s upcoming reboot follows recent technical challenges with its Falcon 9 rocket, including launch delays and problems in July and August. Despite these setbacks, the Falcon 9 has since completed several successful launches, with NASA expressing confidence in SpaceX’s operational safety standards. Bill Specht, NASA’s operations and integration manager for the ISS, emphasized that NASA works closely with SpaceX on mission safety, particularly regarding the performance of the Dragon capsule.
Space security remains a top priority
The Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel highlighted the need for continued vigilance as hardware ages and operational demands grow. Kent Rominger, a member of the panel, cautioned against negligence in ensuring safety for both the astronauts and the mission, stressing that routine operations must always be closely monitored for safe space flight.
