A crucial step for the decommissioning of the International Space Station (ISS) has just been reached. NASA has just announced that it has chosen SpaceX to develop a vehicle capable of pushing ISS back into the Earth’s atmosphere. According to a NASA press release, the contract awarded to Elon Musk’s company is estimated to be worth up to $843 million.
The ISS has been an orbiting laboratory that has been continuously occupied for more than two decades. To destroy it after its decommissioning planned for 2030, the station will be thrown into the Earth’s atmosphere above an ocean in order to disintegrate it in a controlled manner. The need for a powerful vehicle capable of maneuvering its 430,000 kilograms is essential to avoid any risk to populated areas.
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“The SpaceX vehicle must make it possible to deorbit the Space Station and avoid any risk for inhabited areas,” NASA said in a press release. Designed to disintegrate upon re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere, this vehicle will remain under the control and responsibility of NASA once developed.
ISS operations continue until 2030
While the United States, Japan, Canada, and Europe continue to operate the ISS until at least 2030, while Russia has committed until 2028. Safe orbit of the International Space Station is the responsibility of all five space agencies,” NASA said. International cooperation in this project remains a point of stability despite global tensions.
Beyond 2030, the United States is turning to private space stations in low orbit to continue research and host NASA astronauts. Axiom Space and Blue Origin are already working on the subject.
