When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.Credit: NASA+A SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule undocked from the International Space Station today (Feb. 26) after spending six months at the orbiting lab.The robotic Dragon departed on schedule today at 12:05 p.m. EST (1705 GMT), ending a roughly six-month orbital stay during which it demonstrated a novel ISS-boosting capability.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe cargo capsule will splash down under parachutes in the Pacific Ocean off the California coast on Friday (Feb. 27) at around 2:44 a.m. EST (0744 GMT), if all goes according to plan. Its reentry and splashdown will not be livestreamed.SpaceX’s CRS-33 Dragon cargo capsule backs away from the International Space Station after undocking on Feb. 26, 2026. | Credit: NASA+The Dragon arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) on Aug. 25 of last year, delivering about 5,000 pounds (2,270 kilograms) of supplies and scientific gear to the astronauts aboard the orbiting lab. It was the 33rd such robotic cargo run that SpaceX has performed for NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services program.The capsule also conducted other useful work during its mission, which is known as CRS-33.For example, it “introduced a new capability to reboost the space station, helping maintain its altitude and counter atmospheric drag, which is critical for safe operations and the long-term sustainability of the orbital complex,” NASA officials said in a statement on Monday (Feb. 23).AdvertisementAdvertisement”During its time docked to the station, Dragon performed six reboosts — five in 2025 and a final maneuver on Jan. 23 — before preparations for its departure began,” they added.Such reboosts have historically been done by Russia’s Progress freighter. It’s unclear, however, if Russia will remain an ISS partner through the lifetime of the orbiting lab, which is expected to be deorbited in late 2030.If Russia leaves the consortium early, other reboosting methods will be needed. Dragon just showed it can handle the job, and Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus cargo craft has done so as well.Progress, Cygnus and Ja …
