NASA is looking to build a space tug that will safely deorbit the International Space Station in the 2030s.
In the White House’s 2024 federal budget request, the administration requested $27.2 billion in discretionary budgeting authority for the fiscal year.
This includes $180 million; It’s seed funding for the space tug that the administration says will “reduce dependence on Russia and help prepare for a new era of commercial space stations built by the United States.”
“The International Space Station should be safely removed at the end of its operational life as the United States transitions to a low-cost commercial space station,” she added. “Instead of relying on Russian systems that may not be able to accomplish this task, the budget provides $180 million to begin developing a new space tug that could also be useful for other space transportation missions.”
The International Space Station maneuvers to avoid collisions with satellites
An image of the International Space Station taken by the crew of Expedition 56 of the Soyuz spacecraft after it was disengaged on October 4, 2018. (NASA)
At a news conference Monday, NASA’s chief of human spaceflight, Kathy Lueders, said the agency “hopes to get a better price than that” after the solicitation, adding that its estimate was “just under $1 billion.”
According to Space-Profound.org, the current plan to drop the orbital laboratory relies on the engine being fired by robotic Progress cargo vehicles, provided by Russia.
Kathy Lueders, Commercial Crew Program manager, speaks during a NASA news conference at Kennedy Space Center on Sept. 16, 2014 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. NASA has announced the return of human spaceflight launches to the United States. (Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images)
NASA’s Artemis I Moon mission suffered more damage than expected in a rocket launch
This long-term image shows Earth 259 miles below the International Space Station Elevated. In the foreground, the crew’s Soyuz MS-21 spacecraft docks in the Prechal docking module that is attached to the Naval Multipurpose Laboratory Module, Sept. 19, 2022. (NASA Johnson)
NASA said the budget would also support a future in low Earth orbit, including with commercial partners. He noted that the budget is investing $39 million to better understand the orbital debris environment and explore ways to ensure safe access to space.
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“President Biden’s budget will help us explore new cosmic frontiers, continue advances in travel and work in space and on the Moon, increase the speed and safety of air travel using the latest technology, protect our planet and improve life here on Earth,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.
Julia Mostow is a correspondent for Fox News and Fox Business Digital.
