SpaceX Dragon Cargo Capsule Delivers 5,000 Pounds of

Supplies to ISS

On Monday, August 25, 2025, a SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS), delivering over 5,000 pounds (2,270 kilograms) of essential supplies and scientific experiments to the crew aboard the orbiting laboratory.

 

The uncrewed Dragon capsule autonomously docked at the forward port of the ISS's Harmony module at 7:05 a.m. EDT, approximately 25 minutes ahead of the scheduled time. This marked the 50th Dragon vehicle to reach the ISS, underscoring SpaceX's pivotal role in supporting station operations.

 

Launched atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 2:45 a.m. EDT on Sunday, August 24, the mission, designated CRS-33, is part of NASA's Commercial Resupply Services program. The Falcon 9's first-stage booster, on its seventh flight, successfully landed on the droneship "A Shortfall of Gravitas" stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

 

Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy highlighted the mission's significance, stating, "Commercial resupply missions to the International Space Station deliver science that helps prove technologies for Artemis lunar missions and beyond." He emphasized that this flight will test 3D printing metal parts and bioprinting tissue in microgravity—technologies that could provide astronauts with tools and medical support on future Moon and Mars missions.

In addition to delivering supplies, the Dragon capsule is equipped with a "boost kit" propulsion module in its unpressurized trunk. This system features dedicated propellant tanks and two Draco thrusters, designed to perform reboost maneuvers, thereby helping maintain the ISS's altitude. Demonstration reboosts are scheduled to begin in September and continue through the fall, reducing reliance on Russian Progress vehicles for station maintenance.

 

The CRS-33 Dragon is scheduled to remain docked until December 2025. Upon departure, it will return research samples and cargo to Earth, concluding another successful chapter in the ongoing partnership between NASA and SpaceX.