SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft provided a boost to the International Space Station (ISS) on Nov. 8, performing an orbit-raising maneuver for the first time to stabilize the ISS’s trajectory.

This maneuver is necessary to prevent orbital decay and has traditionally been done by Russian spacecraft.

The successful reboost marks a milestone as SpaceX is now contributing to the ISS’s orbital maintenance.

This demonstration also supports the design of a future deorbit vehicle to safely bring the ISS down after 2030, Space.com has reported.

As the ISS nears retirement, NASA aims to shift resources to new commercial space stations and deepen its exploration efforts, including the Artemis Program.

Written by B.C. Begley