Historic First: All Eight Ports Filled
For the first time in its 25‑year history, the International Space Station (ISS) has all eight of its docking ports occupied simultaneously. This milestone marks a significant moment in the station’s evolution as a bustling hub for low‑Earth orbit operations.
How the Milestone Was Reached
The ISS, which has been orbiting Earth for a quarter of a century, reached this historic moment when Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft was reinstalled to the Earth‑facing port of the station’s Unity module. The event, which took place on Monday, saw the station’s docking ports fully occupied.
Current Docked Vehicles
The spacecraft currently docked at the ISS include:
- Two SpaceX Dragon capsules
- One Northrop Grumman Cygnus XL
- JAXA’s HTV‑X1
- Two Russian Soyuz crew spacecraft
- Two Russian Progress cargo ships
Recent Maneuvers
The Cygnus XL arrived in September but was temporarily undocked last month to make way for a Russian Soyuz carrying one NASA astronaut and two Roscosmos cosmonauts. The maneuver was coordinated among NASA, Northrop Grumman, and Roscosmos to clear the arriving crewed Soyuz MS‑28 spacecraft on November 27.
Cygnus is expected to remain at the ISS until at least March 2026, after which it will depart and burn up in Earth’s atmosphere, disposing of up to 11,000 pounds of trash and unneeded cargo.
Why It Matters
This milestone of filling all the station’s ports for the first time highlights the ISS’s role as a vital international hub for low‑Earth orbit operations. It also underscores the strong demand for future orbital infrastructure, especially as the ISS is expected to end operations around 2030 due to high maintenance costs.
Future of Low‑Earth Orbit Stations
Several U.S.‑based companies are already developing commercial designs to replace the ISS, while Russia plans to deploy its own habitable satellite in the coming years. China has already established its own space station in low‑Earth orbit.
Looking Ahead
As the ISS continues to serve as a critical platform for international collaboration and scientific research, this milestone serves as a testament to its enduring importance. For those interested in learning more about life and work aboard the ISS, numerous insightful videos and resources are available from past visitors to the facility.
