NASA reports that SpaceX will construct deorbit vehicles for the International Space Station’s retirement in 2030.
NASA has granted SpaceX a contract valued at $843 million to create a spacecraft intended to facilitate the deorbiting of the International Space Station (ISS) as it approaches its retirement around the year 2030, as announced by the agency on Wednesday. “SpaceX has been chosen to design and provide the US Deorbit Vehicle, ensuring a safe and responsible deorbit of the Space Station following the conclusion of its operational lifespan in 2030,” stated NASA on X.
The “deorbit vehicle” is designed to facilitate a controlled descent of the large station, thereby minimizing any potential risks to populated regions on Earth, as stated. “Choosing a US Deorbit Vehicle for the International Space Station will assist NASA and its global partners in achieving a safe and responsible transition in low-Earth orbit once station operations conclude,” remarked Ken Bowersox, associate administrator for the Space Operations Mission Directorate at NASA, in a statement.
The statement highlighted that the station, which has been operational for 24 years, represents a joint initiative involving the space agencies of Canada, Europe, Japan, Russia, and the United States. While all other partners have pledged to maintain its operations until 2030, Russia has indicated a potential continuation only until 2028. NASA emphasized that although many components of the ISS can be repaired or replaced in orbit, essential parts such as crewed modules and truss structures have a finite lifespan due to the effects of operational wear and tear.
“NASA has concluded that deorbiting the International Space Station using a US-developed deorbit vehicle, with a final target in a remote part of the ocean, is the best option for the station’s end of life,” according to a recent study from the agency.
In the future, NASA plans to move its low-Earth orbit operations to facilities that are owned and run by the private sector, ushering in a new era of space travel for humans.
NASA is financing deep space exploration at the Moon and Mars in addition to promoting ongoing scientific, educational, and technological advancements in low Earth orbit for the benefit of humanity. It is imperative to get ready for the safe and responsible deorbit of the International Space Station in a controlled manner after its operational life ends in 2030, as the agency moves to commercially owned space destinations closer to home.
“A safe and responsible transition in low Earth orbit at the end of station operations will be ensured by NASA and its international partners with the selection of a U.S. Deorbit Vehicle for the International Space Station.” “This decision permits the continued use of space near Earth and supports NASA’s plans for future commercial destinations,” stated Ken Bowersox, associate administrator for the Space Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “The orbital laboratory continues to serve as a model for space research, collaboration, and science for the good of all.”
The International Space Station has been run by five space agencies since 1998: NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), CSA (Canadian Space Agency), ESA (European Space Agency), JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), and State Space Corporation Roscosmos. Each agency is in charge of overseeing and managing the hardware that it provides. The station was meant to be mutually reliant and runs on contributions from all members of the partnership. Operating the station through 2030 is a commitment made by the United States, Japan, Canada, and the participating nations of ESA. Russia has promised to keep running the station until at least 2028. All five space agencies are in charge of ensuring the safe deorbit of the International Space Station.
The potential value of the single-award contract is $843 million in total. A future purchase will be made for the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle’s launch service.
The space station, which is in its 24th year of continuous crewed operations, is a unique scientific platform where crew members conduct research in a variety of fields, such as biology, human physiology, physical sciences, Earth and space science, and technology demonstrations not possible on Earth. Thousands of researchers on the ground have carried out over 3,300 microgravity experiments with the crews living on board the station.
