SpaceX’s Dragon just SOLVES Space Station Big Problem Russia Called Impossible.

Описание: SpaceX’s Dragon just SOLVES Space Station Big Problem Russia Called Impossible.
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SpaceX’s Dragon just SOLVES Space Station Big Problem Russia Called Impossible.
Firing thrusters for over 19 minutes to boost the entire ISS higher — that’s a huge achievement SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft has just pulled off.
This wasn’t a routine maneuver. It marked Dragon’s fifth reboost in the CRS-33 mission series, proving that SpaceX’s capsule can now handle a task long dominated by Russia’s Progress spacecraft.
Here’s the kicker: during this 19-minute burn, Dragon accomplished something Progress has never been able to do.
So how did Dragon manage to outperform Progress? And why do experts believe this moment signals a major shift in space operations and international cooperation?
Let’s break it down in today’s Techmap episode.
SpaceX’s Dragon just SOLVES Space Station Big Problem Russia Called Impossible.
To begin with, Dragon was originally designed to carry cargo to the ISS, not to conduct orbital reboosts like Russia’s Progress vehicle. Gaining that capability required solving several engineering challenges.
The capsule’s Draco thrusters were not positioned for efficient boosting maneuvers; they were meant to control Dragon’s own movement. SpaceX addressed this by installing two rear-facing Draco engines aligned with the station’s velocity vector. These engines are part of a “boost kit” mounted in Dragon’s trunk section.
The engines draw propellant from six dedicated tanks in the trunk that hold hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide—two chemicals that ignite on contact. The tanks are wrapped in silver insulation, with a central helium pressurant tank covered in black carbon fiber.
To control the system, SpaceX used existing communication lines on Dragon, routing them through the station’s docking mechanism. The company also reused hardware wherever possible: the two Draco engines were taken from the Crew-8 mission, and the six propellant tanks came from 2020 abort test units.
SpaceX’s Dragon just SOLVES Space Station Big Problem Russia Called Impossible.
Even though the kit uses recycled components, it adds roughly 20 miles per hour, or about 9 meters per second, to the station’s speed. That equals about one and a half Progress reboosts—roughly a quarter of the station’s yearly orbit maintenance.
Each Draco engine produces about 400 newtons (90 pounds-force) of thrust, giving the pair a combined output of about 800 newtons optimized for extended burns. In comparison, Progress typically delivers around 500 to 600 newtons during a reboost.
The boost kit carries its own fuel and helium pressurant, independent of Dragon’s main systems. This prevents depletion of flight reserves and ensures steady power during long burns. The trunk-mounted thrusters face directly along the station’s velocity vector, improving efficiency for orbit-raising. Heating elements and insulation prevent the propellant from freezing or overheating in the vacuum of space.
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