The satellite image shows an overview of the International Space Station and the Boeing Starliner on June 7, 2024. Maxar Technologies | via Reuters
The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration announced on Wednesday that it will let a spacecraft from Elon Musk’s space exploration technology company guide the destruction of the International Space Station later this decade. NASA awarded a contract of $843 million to SpaceX to build the so-called “American de-orbit vehicle”. The spacecraft, built by SpaceX, will guide the return of the football field-sized research laboratory to Earth’s atmosphere after its retirement in 2030, effectively destroying the International Space Station by propelling it out of orbit and into the atmosphere. NASA stated in a press release that it is crucial to “prepare for the safe and responsible deorbit of the International Space Station in a controlled manner” and that the deorbit vehicle needs to “ensure the avoidance of risks to densely populated areas”.
NASA did not specify whether the design of SpaceX’s American de-orbit vehicle will be based on one of the company’s existing spacecraft, such as its “Dragon” capsule. Neither SpaceX nor NASA immediately responded to requests for comment on the design from CNBC. The US, along with four international partners representing Russia, Europe, Canada, and Japan, has been preparing for the final end of the International Space Station which has been manned since 2000. The International Space Station was primarily created as a manned research laboratory and has conducted over 3,300 microgravity experiments, including research that is impossible to conduct on Earth, such as medical science and technology demonstrations.
However, the International Space Station is aging, and NASA and its primary partner Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, have been unable to solve the space station’s increasing micro-leak problems. NASA published a study on Wednesday analyzing the reasons for its decision to deliberately destroy the International Space Station during a controlled re-entry. The agency evaluated various alternatives, including dismantling the space station in orbit, or attempting to boost the International Space Station to a higher orbit using large spacecraft like SpaceX’s Starship. “The space station is a unique artificial construct, and its historical value can hardly be overstated. NASA considered this in determining whether any portion of the space station could be salvaged for historical preservation or technical analysis,” the agency wrote. Ultimately, the study determined that any attempt to preserve or reuse the International Space Station would be technically or economically infeasible. NASA noted that the operational lifetime of the International Space Station may be extended beyond 2030, but this has not been determined and requires agreement with its international partners. NASA is planning to replace the International Space Station with privately built space stations and help fund the development of US companies through the Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations (CLD) program. The development and construction of the International Space Station amount to about $150 billion, and NASA’s annual operating costs are about $4 billion, so the agency sees privately built space stations as a cost-effective replacement for the International Space Station.
