"SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft has successfully reboosted the International Space Station (ISS), raising the perigee of its orbit by approximately one mile and further eroding the complex's reliance on Russian rocketry. The reboost kit, located in the trunk of the SpaceX CRS-33 Dragon cargo spacecraft, consists of two Draco engines. The system is isolated from the rest of the spacecraft, and the demonstration was intended to show how the vehicle can maintain the ISS's altitude."
"The maneuver lasted five minutes, three seconds, and the initial test burn left the outpost in an orbit of 260.9 x 256.3 miles. Managers plan to use the reboost kit again throughout fall and perform a series of longer burns. The Northrop Grumman Cygnus cargo spacecraft can also perform limited reboosts, and SpaceX demonstrated in 2024 that the Dragon itself is capable of using its engines to nudge the ISS."
"With the retirement of the Space Shuttle and the end of the European Space Agency's (ESA) ATV program, Roscosmos Progress vehicles have been regularly used to reboost the ISS. The extra capability could be timely. Rocket and Space Corporation Energia produces the Progress spacecraft. Last week, CEO Igor Maltev reportedly told employees that they needed to stop "lying to themselves and others about the state of affairs, convincing themselves and others that everything is fine with us.""
SpaceX's Dragon used a reboost kit in its CRS-33 trunk containing two Draco engines to raise the ISS perigee by about one mile. The isolated system executed a five-minute, three-second burn, placing the station in a 260.9 x 256.3 mile orbit. Managers plan additional tests through fall with longer burns. Northrop Grumman's Cygnus can also perform limited reboosts, and SpaceX previously demonstrated Dragon engine nudges in 2024. Historically, Russian Progress vehicles handled most reboosts after Shuttle retirement and ESA ATV end. Concerns about the Russian program's condition increase the value of alternative reboost and controlled deorbit capabilities.
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