However, its end is now programmed. NASA recently appointed SpaceX to carry out this delicate mission, and the details of this operation are both fascinating and disturbing.
The choice of SpaceX for a perilous mission
SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, has been chosen for this monumental task. With a budget of $843 million, the company will develop a special vehicle called the US Deorbit Vehicle (USDV). This impressive amount reflects the complexity and danger of this mission.
Video: Boiling water below 100°C
SpaceX’s task will not be easy. Since its commissioning, the mass of the ISS has increased significantly, reaching approximately 420 tonnes. This enormous structure requires a powerful device to dislodge it from its current orbit and direct it towards destruction.
The deorbiting process
The USDV will have to dock with the ISS and slow it down as it enters the Earth’s atmosphere. At a speed of over 25,000 km/h, the station will experience enormous thermal and mechanical stresses, resulting in a spectacular space “fireworks display.”
Video: Our planet facing the immensity of the Universe
NASA models indicate that the ISS will fracture into three major pieces, generating a cloud of debris. Although most of the structure will be pulverized, some large pieces of debris will not have time to burn up completely.
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