NASA's Cargo Dragon docks with ISS for 31st mission and prepares for new thruster demonstration

NASA's Cargo Dragon spacecraft successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday, delivering about 6,000 pounds of cargo. This marks SpaceX's 31st cargo mission for NASA over nearly 11 years.

A significant development for this mission is the upcoming "reboost and attitude control demonstration." Scheduled for Friday, this will be the first time the Dragon spacecraft uses its thrusters to adjust the ISS's position.

The demonstration will utilize Draco thrusters located on the spacecraft's service section, which are typically used for maneuvering. The test will last approximately 12.5 minutes and aims to gather data for future spacecraft capabilities.