Additional Coverage:
- The International Space Station is getting the scrap, and Elon Musk’s SpaceX is being paid close to $1 billion to do the honors (newsbreak.com)
SpaceX has been selected to undertake the monumental task of deorbiting the International Space Station (ISS) once it concludes its service in 2030. This mission, contracted by NASA, comes with an allocation of $843 million to Elon Musk’s aerospace enterprise to develop a mechanism capable of safely lowering the ISS from its current position approximately 250 miles above Earth.
The announcement made by NASA outlines SpaceX’s responsibility in crafting the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle, designed specifically to safely deorbit the space station, ensuring it poses no danger to populated areas upon re-entry. This decision follows a requisition for proposals initiated by NASA in September, where it sought competitive bids for the creation of this critical infrastructure.
In response to their selection, SpaceX expressed its honor in being chosen by NASA for such a pivotal mission, recognizing the trust placed in their capabilities to execute this significant task.
As we approach the decommissioning of the ISS, NASA’s vision shifts towards the support and utilization of smaller, commercial space stations operating closer to Earth, known as Low Earth Orbit. These new platforms, anticipated to start operations in the late 2020s, will serve both government and private interests, indicating a future where space exploration and utilization could become more accessible and commercially driven.
The ISS itself, an impressive structure weighing 925,000 pounds and stretching nearly the length of a football field, has been a collaborative endeavor involving multiple space agencies, including NASA, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), the European Space Agency (ESA), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and Russia’s Roscosmos. Since its launch in 1998, it has facilitated over 3,300 experiments, providing invaluable data and insights achievable only in the unique conditions of space.
SpaceX’s history with NASA, dating back to 2014 when it was selected alongside another company for commercial space transportation efforts, has solidified its partnership and proven its capabilities in advancing space exploration infrastructure. While neither SpaceX nor NASA provided immediate comments regarding this latest development, the anticipation for what this mission will achieve marks a significant milestone in space exploration history.