Dragon isn't the first U.S.-built spacecraft to lend its fuel to the space station's orbit. NASA tested an ISS orbit reboost using a Northrop Grumman Cygnus cargo vehicle in 2022. The data from Dragon's reboost, however, will ultimately pave the way for a catastrophic "un-boosting" of the space station's orbit.

SpaceX’s Dragon capsule is about to play a new, important role in maintaining the International Space Station. For the first time, NASA has planned a “reboost” maneuver with a cargo Dragon capsule docked to the ISS.

China aims to develop its own reusable megarocket over the coming decade, and it will look a lot like SpaceX's Starship vehicle.