AA / Istanbul / Gizem Nisa Cebi
NASA has awarded SpaceX an $843 million contract to develop a spacecraft specifically designed to push the International Space Station (ISS) out of orbit when it reaches retirement in 2030, the US space agency announced Wednesday.
“We have chosen SpaceX to develop and deliver the US Deorbit Vehicle and prepare for a safe and responsible deorbit of the Space Station, following the end of its operational life in 2030,” NASA said in a post on Platform .
This “deorbiting vehicle” will ensure a controlled descent of the immense space station, thus avoiding risks to populated areas of the Earth, the press release specifies.
“The selection of a U.S. deorbit vehicle for the International Space Station will help NASA and its international partners ensure a safe and responsible transition to low-Earth orbit at the end of station operations,” Ken Bowersox, associate administrator for NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate, said in a statement.
The press release clarified that after 24 years of service, the ISS is the result of a collaborative effort between the space agencies of Canada, Europe, Japan, Russia and the United States. While all other partners have committed to keeping it in operation until 2030, Russia has indicated that they could collaborate on the project until 2028.
NASA has emphasized that while much of the ISS is repairable or replaceable in orbit, crucial elements such as crew modules and truss structures have a limited lifespan due to operational wear and tear.
“NASA has concluded that pushing the International Space Station out of orbit using a U.S.-developed deorbit vehicle, with a final landing site in a remote part of the ocean, is the best option for the end of the station’s life,” the space agency said in a recent report.
Looking ahead, NASA plans to transition its low-Earth orbit operations to commercially owned and operated facilities, opening a new chapter in human space exploration.
* Translated from English by Mounir Bennour.
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