Elon Musk’s SpaceX intends to dismantle the International Space Station for $843 million after NASA astronauts become stranded in space.
NASA awards spacex contract to bring down the ISS
Elon Musk’s dream of making humanity an interplanetary species is well known. Now, his plans for the International Space Station (ISS) are becoming clearer.
In June 2024, NASA awarded SpaceX an $843 million contract to de-orbit the ISS.
The goal is to build a spacecraft capable of safely bringing it down to Earth.
This announcement comes as NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams found themselves stranded due to docking issues.
However, these incidents are unrelated to the ISS decommissioning plan.
Why NASA plans to retire the ISS
The ISS was not built to last forever. NASA has confirmed that its operational life will end in 2030.
Despite this timeline, Musk has hinted at accelerating the process.
He believes the station no longer serves a crucial purpose and has expressed his desire to focus on Mars exploration.
Taking to Twitter, Musk stated that the ISS had outlived its usefulness. He urged for a shift in focus toward Mars colonization.
“It is time to begin preparations for deorbiting the @Space_Station. It has served its purpose. There is very little incremental utility. Let’s go to Mars,” he wrote.
When asked if he was suggesting an earlier de-orbiting, Musk replied, “The decision is up to the President, but my recommendation is as soon as possible. I recommend 2 years from now.”
How Spacex will bring down the ISS
NASA’s current plan involves a controlled descent for the ISS. Once operations cease, the station will gradually descend toward Earth over 18 months.
SpaceX will modify its Dragon spacecraft to complete the mission. This upgraded version will have six times the propellant and four times the thruster power of a standard Dragon.
The vehicle will latch onto the ISS and use its thrusters to guide it into Earth’s atmosphere. Most of the station will burn up upon reentry, with remaining debris planned to land in a remote part of the South Pacific Ocean.
Built in 1998, the ISS was a joint effort by NASA, Roscosmos, ESA, JAXA, and CSA.
The station cost an estimated $150 billion to construct, which equates to $292 billion today when adjusted for inflation.
For over two decades, it has been a hub for scientific research, enabling experiments impossible on Earth.
Orbiting 250 miles above the planet, the ISS has played a critical role in space exploration.
What’s next for space exploration?
Musk remains focused on Mars colonization. His vision includes building a sustainable base on the Red Planet.
With the ISS nearing its end, the next era of space exploration could see humanity taking its first steps toward becoming a multi-planetary species.
For now, all eyes are on SpaceX and NASA as they prepare for the ISS’s final mission.