For the first time in its history, the International Space Station (ISS) has seen all eight of its docking ports simultaneously occupied by spacecraft.
NASA officials announced this situation in a December 1, 2025 statement, marking an unprecedented moment for this orbital complex which has been in service since 1998.
Illustration of the eight spacecraft visiting the International Space Station as of December 1, 2025.
Credit: NASA
This full occupancy required precise maneuvers. Before the arrival of the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft with three astronauts, the
NASA control center used the Canadarm2 robotic arm to temporarily move the Cygnus-23 cargo ship in order to free up the space needed for safe docking. This cargo ship was later reinstalled at its usual port, a necessary step for managing such an orbital traffic jam.
The Soyuz MS-28 crew, including members from
NASA and the Russian space agency Roscosmos, joined the station for an eight-month mission. Meanwhile, another Soyuz spacecraft, the MS-27, is scheduled to depart the ISS on December 8 with three occupants, enabling a crew rotation and reflecting the sustained pace of manned missions.
The other present vehicles include two Russian Progress cargo ships, the Japanese HTV-X1 spacecraft, and two SpaceX Dragon capsules. These Dragons serve different functions: one for resupply and the other for crew transport.
The Crew-11 mission, with astronauts from
NASA, the Japanese agency JAXA, and Roscosmos, constitutes part of the current residents. Their stay is planned until 2026.
This exceptional configuration highlights the evolution of space activities, where the management of resources and space is becoming increasingly important.