|
|
| App | Log in |
|
|
|
| App | Log in |
 | "Descrizione" by Al222 (24916 pt) | 2026-Apr-26 12:57 |
Update as of April 26, 2026
By SpaceX CRS-2 Missions, it is now better to refer to the Cargo Dragon missions under NASA’s CRS-2 contract, rather than the old single SpaceX CRS-2 mission from 2013.
| Mission | Status | Main updates |
|---|---|---|
| SpaceX CRS-34 / SpX-34 | Upcoming | NASA and SpaceX are targeting launch no earlier than Tuesday, May 12, 2026, from SLC-40, Cape Canaveral, using Falcon 9 and Cargo Dragon. It will be SpaceX’s 34th CRS cargo mission to the ISS. |
| SpaceX CRS-33 / SpX-33 | Completed | Dragon splashed down off the coast of California on February 27, 2026, closing the CRS-33 mission. During its stay at the ISS, it performed six orbital reboosts, an important new capability for Cargo Dragon. |
| SpaceX CRS-32 / SpX-32 | Completed | Dragon returned on May 25, 2025, after delivering about 6,700 lb of supplies and experiments and bringing back more than 4,000 lb of cargo. |
The most important recent update is CRS-34. NASA opened media accreditation on April 20, 2026, and lists CRS-34 as the next SpaceX cargo flight carrying science, supplies, and hardware to the International Space Station. The announced experiments include studies on microgravity simulators, a wood-based bone scaffold with possible applications for conditions such as osteoporosis, and instruments to assess changes in red blood cells and the spleen in space.
CRS-33 was technically very significant. The key point was not only its return, but also the operational test of Dragon’s new role in ISS orbital maintenance. NASA confirmed that Dragon performed six reboost maneuvers, five in 2025 and the last one on January 23, 2026, before returning to Earth. This reduces reliance on the vehicles traditionally used to raise the station’s orbit.
The CRS-33 reboost system used two Draco engines in the trunk, with an independent propulsion system. The first test, on September 3, 2025, lasted 5 minutes and 3 seconds and raised the ISS altitude by about one mile at perigee. The reboost on December 29, 2025, lasted more than 19 minutes and brought the orbit to about 263.5 × 257.8 miles.
CRS-2 context: NASA awarded the Commercial Resupply Services-2 contracts in 2016 to multiple providers, including SpaceX, for cargo delivery, disposal, and sample return from the ISS. In 2022, NASA ordered another 12 CRS-2 missions, six from Northrop Grumman and six from SpaceX, to ensure station resupply through 2026.
In summary: the next mission to follow is CRS-34, currently targeted by NASA for no earlier than May 12, 2026. The previous mission, CRS-33, already marked an important step because it operationally demonstrated Cargo Dragon’s ability to contribute to ISS reboost operations.
| Evaluate |
