Falcon 9 Block 5 | Dragon CRS-2 SpX-33

SpaceX's Falcon 9 Powers Dragon CRS-2 SpX-33 Mission to the ISS

On August 24, 2025, SpaceX is set to launch its Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, carrying the Cargo Dragon 2 spacecraft on the 33rd commercial resupply services (CRS) mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Designated CRS-2 SpX-33, this flight operates under NASA's second Commercial Resupply Services contract, marking another milestone in the partnership between the space agency and private industry to sustain operations aboard the orbiting laboratory.

The primary objectives of the SpX-33 mission center on delivering essential supplies, scientific experiments, and hardware to support the ISS crew and ongoing research. The Cargo Dragon 2, an uncrewed variant of the spacecraft that has ferried astronauts since 2020, boasts impressive payload capabilities. It can transport up to 3,000 kilograms of pressurized cargo inside its capsule and an additional 800 kilograms in its unpressurized trunk section. For this mission, the payload includes provisions like food, water, and clothing for the crew, as well as advanced scientific instruments and materials for experiments in biology, physics, and Earth observation. Notably, SpX-33 introduces a groundbreaking feature: a boost module housed in the Dragon's trunk. This module, designed to assist in raising the ISS's orbit, addresses the station's gradual orbital decay caused by atmospheric drag. By providing supplemental propulsion, it enhances the ISS's longevity without relying solely on visiting vehicles like Russia's Progress spacecraft, potentially streamlining station maintenance and reducing operational costs.

At the heart of the mission is the Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket, SpaceX's workhorse launch vehicle. Standing 70 meters tall with a diameter of 3.7 meters, the two-stage rocket is powered by Merlin engines—nine on the first stage and one vacuum-optimized version on the second. Each Merlin engine burns RP-1 kerosene and liquid oxygen, generating a combined thrust of over 7.6 million Newtons at liftoff. The Block 5 variant, introduced in 2018, incorporates upgrades for reusability, including reinforced heat shields, titanium grid fins for controlled descent, and improved landing legs. This design allows the first stage to return to Earth for recovery, either on drone ships or land-based pads, slashing launch costs and enabling rapid turnaround times. The rocket's payload capacity to low Earth orbit (LEO) reaches 22,800 kilograms in