Farewell to Low‑Earth Orbit
SpaceX's unmanned cargo vehicle Dragon has detached from the International Space Station (ISS) after completing its supply mission. The spacecraft separated from the docking port, performed a departure burn, and set a course back toward Earth.
Final Sunlit Moments
During the departure, Dragon re‑entered sunlight, illuminating its solar arrays and powering its telemetry systems. The striking image of the glowing vehicle was selected as the photo of the day on 23 June 2026.
Mission Technical Details
- Undocking time: 09:14 UTC
- Orbital altitude at departure: approximately 400 km
- Propulsion: Draco thrusters for de‑orbit maneuvers
Next Phase of the Flight
Following separation, Dragon will remain in low‑Earth orbit before executing its re‑entry burn, ultimately splashing down in the Pacific Ocean where recovery teams will retrieve the capsule and its cargo.
Implications for Future Flights
The successful conclusion of this resupply mission reinforces the reliability of the Dragon system and underpins ongoing collaboration between SpaceX and international space agencies.