Photo: SpaceX
NASA and SpaceX have signed a contract worth $843 million. Under this agreement, Elon Musk’s company will be responsible for creating a spacecraft that can safely guide the massive 900,000-pound, 358-foot ISS out of its stable orbit.
The main goal of the deorbit vehicle is to ensure that the ISS burns up during reentry and lands in the ocean to minimize any risks associated with debris surviving atmospheric reentry.
Ken Bowersox, the associate administrator of NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate, highlighted that this decision aligns with the agency’s plans for future commercial destinations and continued use of near-Earth space.
SpaceX is set to develop the US Deorbit Vehicle, which will act as a powerful “tugboat” to guide the International Space Station to its final destination. While specific design details are still under wraps, experts believe it will likely be based on SpaceX’s Starship.
This spacecraft must be sturdy enough to navigate the complexities of moving the largest human-made object in orbit safely back to Earth. The deorbit mission comes with its own set of challenges, as some parts of the ISS may not burn up entirely during reentry, requiring precise targeting to reduce risks to populated areas.
NASA is actively supporting the development of commercial space stations as the ISS nears retirement.
Axiom Space will manufacture the ISS’s first commercial module, Hab One, set to launch in 2026. Blue Origin and Sierra Space have plans for their private space station, Orbital Reef.
This shift towards a more commercially driven space economy will see NASA transitioning from station operator to customer for future orbital facilities.
The goal is to encourage innovation, cut costs, and ensure a continuous human presence in space post-ISS era.
