NASA Awards SpaceX $843 Million Contract to Build U.S. Deorbit Vehicle for International Space Station

NASA announced on Wednesday that it has awarded a contract worth $843 million to SpaceX, Elon Musk’s aerospace company, to build the “U.S. Deorbit Vehicle.” This spacecraft will be responsible for guiding the International Space Station (ISS) into the Earth’s atmosphere for controlled destruction when it retires in 2030.

The decision to destroy the ISS is based on the need for a safe and responsible deorbit to ensure the avoidance of risk to populated areas. NASA has been preparing for the eventual end of the ISS, which has been crewed since 2000, along with four international partner agencies.

The ISS has served as a crucial research laboratory, enabling more than 3,300 experiments to be conducted in microgravity. This environment has facilitated research in medical sciences and technology demonstrations that would not have been possible on Earth.

However, the ISS is facing challenges due to its aging infrastructure. NASA and its lead partner, Roscosmos, have been struggling with microscopic leaks on the station. Despite efforts to address this problem, it has become increasingly difficult to maintain the ISS’s functionality.

In a study published by NASA, various alternatives were considered for the fate of the ISS, including disassembling it in orbit or raising it to a higher orbit using spacecraft like SpaceX’s Starship. However, these alternatives were deemed technically or economically infeasible.

The study acknowledged the historical value of the ISS but concluded that salvaging any part of it for preservation or technical analysis was not feasible. While there is a possibility that the ISS’s operational lifetime could be extended beyond 2030, this decision would require agreement among international partner agencies.

NASA’s plan for replacing the ISS involves partnering with private space stations and funding the development of these stations through the Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) program. By transitioning to privately-built space stations, NASA aims to reduce costs significantly compared to the $150 billion spent on developing and building the ISS, along with the $4 billion annual operating cost.

The partnership with SpaceX for the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle marks another milestone in the collaboration between NASA and Elon Musk’s company. SpaceX’s proven track record in space missions, including successful cargo resupply missions to the ISS and crewed missions with the Dragon capsules, makes them a reliable choice for this crucial task.

As NASA looks ahead to the retirement of the ISS and the transition to private space stations, it is clear that the agency is committed to pushing the boundaries of space exploration and research. By embracing new technologies and collaborations, NASA aims to continue its mission of advancing scientific knowledge and expanding human presence in space.