NASA announced the selection of SpaceX to develop and deliver the deorbit vehicle that will ensure the safe departure of the International Space Station (ISS) at the end of its operational life in 2030.
“Selecting a U.S. deorbiter for the ISS will enable NASA and its international partners to ensure a safe transition to low Earth orbit at the end of station operations,” said Ken Bowersox, NASA’s administrator for space operations and mission directorate. “This decision also supports NASA’s plans for future commercial deployments and ensures the continued use of near-Earth space.”
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Since its launch in 1998, the ISS has been an unprecedented international collaboration, jointly operated by five space agencies: the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), the European Space Agency (ESA), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), NASA and the Russian State Space Corporation Roscosmos.
Each of these agencies is responsible for managing and controlling the hardware it provides, making the station an interdependent system that requires the coordinated effort of all its partners.
NASA will operate the deorbit vehicle developed by SpaceX once its development is completed, ensuring that both the ship and the ISS disintegrate in a controlled manner during the re-entry process, minimizing risks to populated areas. This contract, with a potential value of $843 million, represents a significant step in ISS retirement planning.
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The ISS, in its 24th year of continuous operations, remains an invaluable scientific platform. Crew members on board conduct research in a wide range of disciplines, from Earth and space sciences to human biology and physiology, as well as technology demonstrations not possible on Earth. More than 3,300 experiments in microgravity have been carried out thanks to the collaboration of thousands of researchers on land.
With the support of lessons learned aboard the ISS, NASA is paving the way for the development of future commercial space stations. The planned transition to a new era of commercial space exploration promises to maintain the legacy of the ISS as a cornerstone of scientific and technological advancement in space.
Image: POT
