On Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, a chapter of orbital research will conclude as the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft departs the International Space Station (ISS). This departure marks the end of NASA’s 33rd SpaceX Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-33) mission, a journey that began in August 2025 and has provided critical data for both deep-space exploration and terrestrial medicine.
The mission is notable not just for the cargo it carried, but for the new capabilities it demonstrated—most significantly, the use of a cargo Dragon to provide “reboost” maneuvers for the space station.
The Departure and Return Schedule
NASA plans to provide comprehensive live coverage of the undocking process. The Dragon spacecraft is scheduled to autonomously undock from the forward-facing port of the Harmony module at 12:05 p.m. EST. Following undocking, the craft will perform a series of thruster burns to move a safe distance away from the orbital complex before beginning its deorbit sequence.
While NASA will stream the departure live on NASA+, the agency’s YouTube channel, and Amazon Prime starting at 11:45 a.m. EST, the final splashdown will not be televised. Instead, the Dragon is expected to splash down off the coast of California at approximately 11:44 p.m. PST (2:44 a.m. EST Friday). Updates on the recovery will be provided via the NASA Space Station Blog.
Scientific Payload: Bringing the Lab Back to Earth
The CRS-33 mission is returning more than 5,000 pounds of science, supplies, and hardware. Unlike other cargo vehicles that burn up upon re-entry, the Dragon is specifically designed to survive the journey through Earth’s atmosphere, making it a vital “delivery truck” for physical samples that need to be analyzed in terrestrial labs.
Several high-profile experiments are among the returning cargo:
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Stellar Stem Cells Mission 2: This study examines how microgravity influences the growth of brain and heart stem cells. By analyzing these frozen samples, researchers hope to unlock new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases like ALS and Parkinson’s.
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Euro Material Ageing: Over the past year, 141 different samples—ranging from 3D-printed materials to specialized coatings—were exposed to the harsh vacuum of space. The results will help engineers build more durable spacecraft for long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars.
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Thailand’s Liquid Crystals: This experiment investigated how liquid crystal films behave without the interference of gravity. The findings could revolutionize the manufacturing of high-definition displays and optical devices.
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The Moon Microscope: A test of a portable diagnostic kit for blood analysis. Proving this technology works in orbit is a prerequisite for keeping astronauts healthy on the Artemis missions to the lunar surface.
A New Capability: The Orbital Reboost
One of the most significant technical achievements of the CRS-33 mission was the demonstration of the Dragon’s reboost capability. Because the ISS sits in low Earth orbit, it experiences a small amount of atmospheric drag that causes its altitude to decay over time. Typically, Russian Progress engines or the Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft perform “reboosts” to push the station back to its proper altitude.
During its stay, this Dragon performed six reboost maneuvers—five in late 2025 and a final burn on Jan. 23, 2026. This adds a layer of redundancy and versatility to ISS operations, ensuring the station remains a stable platform for research through the end of the decade.
The Path Forward
The CRS-33 mission originally launched on Aug. 24, 2025, from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Its return signals a shift in NASA’s focus as the agency transitions toward a more robust commercial economy in low Earth orbit.
By leveraging partners like SpaceX, NASA can focus its internal resources on the Artemis campaign, which aims to return humans to the Moon and eventually send the first astronauts to Mars. The data returning on Thursday is a small but vital piece of that much larger puzzle.
For more information on the mission and the experiments on board, visit the official NASA International Space Station homepage.
