SpaceX will push the ISS into Earth’s atmosphere.keystone (montage)
Destroying the International Space Station by pushing it into Earth’s atmosphere? That’s NASA’s plan for 2030. And it’s found the perfect wrecker to carry out the mission: Elon Musk.
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NASA has selected SpaceX to build a vehicle capable of pushing the International Space Station (ISS) into Earth’s atmosphere for destruction after its retirement in 2030. The structure should thus be partly consumed in its fall.
The American space agency had already announced in the past its intention to plunge the ISS into the Earth’s atmosphere above an ocean after its end of life. Some pieces will disintegrate during the maneuver, others more resistant will end up in the sea.
The contract won by Elon Musk’s billionaire company has a total value of up to $843 million (756 million francs), according to a NASA press release released Wednesday. But this operation requires the development of a powerful vehicle, capable of maneuvering the ISS, which weighs 430 tons. The SpaceX vehicle will have to make it possible “to deorbit the space station and avoid any risk to inhabited areas,” NASA said.
Five agencies concerned
Just like the ISS, this vehicle should break up upon re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere, the space agency said. Once developed, it will belong to NASA, which will be responsible for operating it during its mission.
The United States, Japan, Canada and the Europeans have committed to continuing ISS operations until 2030. Russia has, for now, committed until 2028.
“Safely removing the International Space Station from orbit is the responsibility of all five space agencies”
NASA
Despite the war in Ukraine, the ISS remains one of the rare areas of cooperation between Washington and Moscow. The flying laboratory has been permanently inhabited for more than 20 years.
After 2030, the United States is banking on private space stations in low Earth orbit, which could accommodate NASA astronauts as well as other customers. Several American companies are already working on these projects, including Axiom Space and Blue Origin.
(sda/ats/afp)
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