Astronaut captures ISS orientation change during Cygnus orbit boost
The ISS raised its orbit on Sept. 25 using thrusters on Northrop Grumman's docked Cygnus XL spacecraft ahead of the Crew-13 launch planned for Oct. 1. NASA said the station is now in an orbit of 265.5 by 256.8 miles. Astronaut Anil Menon shared video showing the station changing orientation during the reboost.
The station’s Sept. 25 boost used thrusters on Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL, already docked at the outpost. NASA reported the new orbit as 265.5 by 256.8 miles, with the maneuver timed ahead of Crew-13’s planned Oct. 1 launch.
Astronaut Anil Menon showed the station rotating during the boost, then rotating back. He assembled the view from 5,500 still frames. Cygnus, which arrived in April with over 11,000 pounds of cargo, is set to depart in October and burn up on reentry.
The reboost and Crew-13 preparations may mainly affect spaceflight workers, researchers, and audiences tracking ISS operations. A higher orbit could help support upcoming crew arrival and station logistics, while Menon’s video may make orbital mechanics more accessible to the public. For scientists, continued station activity could preserve research and international collaboration. Broader impacts remain modest, as such maneuvers are routine and chiefly sustain existing operations rather than transform daily life on Earth.