SpaceX Launches CRS-33 Resupply Mission to ISS with Orbit Boost Demonstration

SpaceX's CRS-33 mission launched on August 24, 2025, from Cape Canaveral, carrying over 5,000 pounds of supplies and scientific experiments to the International Space Station (ISS). This 33rd resupply mission includes biomedical research payloads such as bone-forming stem cells to study bone loss, bioprinted liver tissue for blood vessel growth research, and materials for 3D printing medical implants aimed at improving treatments on Earth. Notably, the Dragon spacecraft will demonstrate a new capability by autonomously boosting the ISS's orbit using its thrusters, a task traditionally performed by Russian Progress vehicles. This reboost function is significant due to Russia's potential withdrawal from the ISS program by 2028, prompting NASA to rely more on U.S. suppliers like SpaceX. The Dragon capsule is scheduled to dock at the Harmony module, and the reboost maneuvers will start in September, ensuring the station maintains its operational altitude. The mission underscores SpaceX's critical role in ISS logistics and advancing space commercialization and research.