Spacex just send ISS a new way to stay in orbit

The International Space Station (ISS) has been in orbit for more than 26 years, where the number of housing astronauts is 250 miles (400 km) above Earth. But even at that distance, the space station cannot escape from the Earth’s atmosphere, as oxygen molecules and other gases collide, causing height loss over time.

In order to keep ISS to put it in Orbit, NASA and its partners make a transverse window maneuver. This is usually done using the defenses of the space station (which are small and relatively weak) or as the spacecraft in Russia and Cygeus from Northrop Grumman. However, for the first time, it begins in September, NASA will use a Spacex Dragon vehicle to help maintain the orbital aliens of the space station.

A batch group in the trunk

Spacex Dragon Firing To ISS on Sunday at 2:45 am EST, holds more than 5,000 pounds of supplies for the orbits laboratory. The task of returning routine commercially carried something additional this time, which is a tucked motivation system within the Dragon’s Trunk box to re -display.

Dragon’s Boost will be used to maintain ISS altitude starting from September through a series of planned burns throughout the fall, prompting the huge space station slightly up in its orbit.

The SpaceX spacecraft will use, while it was entrusted to the station, as a system of independent fuel for those used to feed its own engines. Instead, the Boost Kit collection feeds two Draco motorbacks in the spacecraft box using the design of the current motivation devices and system, according to NASA.

Dragon engines do not face the right direction to withdraw reinforcement maneuvers; Thus, the need for additional engines that are in line with the speed of ISS.

The rear engines are associated with the pioneers filled with hydrazzine and nitrogen plaque, which ignite them when they come into contact with each other. When it is time to give ISS a small boost, you will light the engines and adjust the height of the space station in the low -Earth orbit.

Multiple window options

NASA and Spacex It was tested Dragon’s ability to restart ISS in November 2024 through a demonstration that lasted for about 12 minutes. Dragon succeeded in adjusting the station’s orbit by 7/100 miles in Apoge, which is the point where it is beyond the ground, and 7/10 of a mile in Perigee, when you are closest to the ground.

NASA wrote in a statement at that time: “By testing the spacecraft capacity to provide restarting, and in the end, the NASA International Space Station program will be achieved, NASA will have a multiple spacecraft to provide these capabilities to the tropical complex,” NASA wrote in a statement at that time.

The Dragon spacecraft will remain sent on the International Space Station until December – the longest period for shipping mission – in order to withdraw maneuvers in the coming months. The Boost Group that is used in this task is a smaller version of One Spacex that is currently developed by Deorbit Final Space Station.

ISS is scheduled to retire by 2030, and NASA plans to use a Dragon spacecraft to perform a series of Deorbit burns that will reduce the height of the space station until it burns in the Earth’s atmosphere. Until the moment comes for its imminent torment, ISS will enjoy some small support from Dragon.