Eight Spacecraft Docked at International Space Station, Setting Record

The International Space Station (ISS) has reached a significant milestone with a record of eight spacecraft currently docked, occupying all available ports for the first time in its history. This development comes as the ISS prepares for its eventual retirement, which is scheduled to occur in just four years. The current docking arrangement includes two SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft, Japan’s HTV-X1, and multiple Roscosmos vessels, comprising two Soyuz crew spacecraft and two Progress cargo ships.

The Cygnus XL spacecraft was recently detached by the station’s Canadarm2 to accommodate the arrival of the Soyuz MS-28 mission, which successfully delivered two cosmonauts and one NASA astronaut, Jonny Kim, to the ISS on November 27, 2023. With five cargo and three crew spacecraft now docked, the ISS is hosting a total of ten individuals, marking a bustling period for the orbital laboratory.

The record number of crew members aboard the ISS was previously set in July 2009, when the Space Shuttle Endeavor docked, bringing six astronauts to the station and raising the total to 13. Currently, the ISS is gearing up for the departure of the Soyuz MS-27 mission, which is scheduled to return to Earth on December 8, 2023. This mission will bring back Jonny Kim along with Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky.

Busy Operations Ahead of Planned Decommissioning

The logistical coordination required to maintain all dock ports occupied is an impressive feat for NASA and SpaceX. As the ISS continues to facilitate various scientific endeavors, Mission Control in Houston remains exceptionally busy managing these operations. The return of NASA and SpaceX’s Crew-11 mission is also on the horizon, slated to bring back a crew comprising three astronauts and one cosmonaut sometime next year.

As the ISS approaches its decommissioning in 2030, it reflects on over three decades of collaborative efforts in low Earth orbit. The station’s eventual descent will involve using a modified SpaceX spacecraft to guide it safely into the Pacific Ocean, an end to its storied legacy.

Looking ahead, the future of human presence in space remains uncertain. Multiple private space stations are in development, but their launch timelines and capabilities for hosting multiple spacecraft simultaneously are yet to be determined. As the ISS continues to operate at full capacity, the global space community is keenly watching for what comes next in the realm of space exploration and habitation.