A Final Farewell: SpaceX to Demolish the International Space Station
In a move signaling the end of an era, NASA will entrust SpaceX with the delicate task of bringing the International Space Station (ISS) down to Earth. The space agency announced that they have chosen Elon Musk’s company to carry out the monumental task, setting a colossal contract of $843 million.
Since its launch in 1998, the ISS has been a beacon of international collaboration, allowing scientists from around the globe to conduct critical experiments in the unique environment of space. Headed by NASA, the project involved a partnership with Roscosmos (Russia), ESA (European Space Agency), JAXA (Japan), and CSA (Canada).
For over two decades, the ISS has been humanity’s outpost
in low Earth orbit, yielding invaluable data and advancements in various fields. However, the station is reaching the end of its lifespan, with operations slated to cease in 2030.
NASA’s plan involves a controlled descent for the massive structure. Once operations conclude, after 18 months, a specialized SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will dock with the ISS. This upgraded version of the spacecraft will boast six times the usual propellant and four times the thruster power, allowing it to steer the colossal space station towards Earth.
Throughout its fiery descent, the ISS will largely disintegrate in the atmosphere. However, some larger modules are expected to survive and make a splashdown, with the exact landing site yet to be disclosed by NASA.
Because the name SpaceX is becoming synonymous with these kinds of ambitious space milestones, the company’s continued work with NASA is no surprise. The $2.56 billion contract to launch NASA’s Dragonfly mission to Saturn’s moon Titan in 2028 is perhaps evidence of this partnership.
As the world strains to get a peek at these groundbreaking endeavors, experiments continue on the ISS and around space. The Space Trees as well, like the
ISS in its last years is in good hands, “Selecting a U.S. Deorbit Vehicle for the International Space Station will help NASA and its international partners ensure a safe and responsible transition in low Earth orbit at the end of station operations,” said Ken Bowersox, Associate Administrator at NASA.
This means the development of both the next stage for space exploration as well as the creation of the station’s successor.
The scheduled final descent of the ISS marks a new chapter in space exploration while highlighting the enduring legacy of this iconic space station.