From Space Shuttle to SpaceX Dragon: How a Reusable Capsule Became the ISS’s Lifeline
SpaceX’s Dragon became the first commercial spacecraft to dock with the ISS in May 2012, delivering 1,200 pounds of cargo. The program saw milestones including the first reuse of a capsule in 2017 and the first crewed U.S. launch since 2011 in 2020. By 2025, Dragon had flown dozens of missions and delivered over 100 tons of cargo, establishing autonomous docking and reusability for ISS logistics.