--- title: "NASA Says The SpaceX Crew Dragon Module Parked at the ISS Is Generating Way More Power Than Expected" description: "The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule is generating more power than expected while being docked at NASA's International Space Station." date: "2020-06-25" modified: "2020-07-02" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/nasa-spacex-crew-dragon-generating-more-power" categories: - "Crew Dragon" - "International Space Station" - "NASA" - "Space" - "SpaceX" tags: - "crew dragon" - "iss" - "NASA" - "SpaceX" - "the digest" --- # NASA Says The SpaceX Crew Dragon Module Parked at the ISS Is Generating Way More Power Than Expected ![SpaceX Crew Dragon's solar arrays that provide power to the spacecraft are "degrading a little bit better than predicted."]() *\Image: NASA\* ## Exceeds Expectations After successfully launching NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the International Space Station, SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule is being put through its paces while it's docked to the station. So far, it's exceeding expectations: "The vehicle's doing extremely well," Steve Stich, NASA's Commercial Crew Program manager told reporters during a Wednesday press briefing, as [reported by *Space.com*](). In fact, the spacecraft's solar arrays are performing "better than predicted," according to Stich, meaning that it could technically stay docked 114 more days, way past its planned return date with Behnken and Hurley aboard on August 2. ## Tight Quarters NASA is also planning to stuff two additional ISS crew members into the module, alongside the two Crew Dragon pilots, as part of a habitability test to see what the experience will be like during future missions. Behnken will be joining ISS Expedition 63 commander Chris Cassidy for a spacewalk on Friday to upgrade the space station's outdated batteries. The agency is still planning to run additional tests before it returns Behnken and Hurley back to Earth, including an air conditioning system check, according to *Space.com*. While the launch and docking procedures went by [without much of a hitch](), the capsule's reentry is still a significant test. Only once both astronauts are safe back on the surface will SpaceX and NASA be able to call their Demo-2 mission a success. **READ MORE:** [SpaceX's 1st Crew Dragon for astronauts aces tests in space, could land Aug. 2]() \[*Space.com*\] **More on Demo-2:** *[NASA Planning Mysterious Test With ISS-Docked SpaceX Crew Dragon]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()