NASA has selected SpaceX to develop a vehicle that will bring the International Space Station to a fiery end when the time comes.
The space agency first asked U.S. aerospace companies for proposals in March 2023 and then again in September of that year. The request was for a “space tug” vehicle that could help deorbit the U.S. sections of the International Space Station (ISS) safely.
On Wednesday (June 26), the agency issued a statement announcing that SpaceX has been selected to develop and deliver the “U.S. Deorbit Vehicle” as it’s known. The contract is worth up to $843 million; that total does not include any launch costs, however, and is for the vehicle development only. The vehicle will be responsible for disposing of the space station “in a controlled manner after the end of its operational life in 2030,” the statement adds.
If they were going for uncontrolled crashes they would have selected Boeing
They got a Boeing stuck to it right now. The mission may start earlier than planned…
Or the Soyuz and it’s thruster fits from last year.
Technically it’s just a bunch of metal and other stuff but the thought of deorbiting the ISS makes me sad.
I wish they could send it into space so it can orbit the sun forever instead of burning up.
Good point, if they’re sending a rocket up there anyway, why not just push it away from earth rather than towards it? Is it because it’s in LEO and there’s a ton of other satellites farther out?
Way too much dV to leave earth
Cause musk knows how build things that crash and burn
Question: why deorbit vs push out of orbit away from earth?
I can’t wait for the headline about his SpaceX miscalculated, rammed the station, and initiated a Kessler cascade, obliterating the infrastructure needed for international logistics and communications. Get ready for the sequel to the 1970s everybody!
They leave the Boeing and Soyuz up there, then when it’s time, gas 'em up and have them act as controlled thrusters. Everything burns up in the atmosphere. All problems solved.
Saves them $800M and change.
Yeah simple. It’s not like it’s rocket science.
Should have went with Boeing they seem to good at diorbiting stuff.
