June 27th 2024.
In a recent announcement, it was revealed that Elon Musk's SpaceX has been awarded a groundbreaking contract worth $843 million by NASA. This contract is focused on ensuring the safe and responsible deorbit of the International Space Station (ISS) after it reaches the end of its operational life in 2030.
As part of this contract, SpaceX will be developing and delivering the US Deorbit Vehicle, which will play a crucial role in deorbiting the space station and minimizing any potential risks to populated areas. In a statement made by Ken Bowersox, the associate administrator for Space Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, it was highlighted that this decision was made with the intention of ensuring a smooth and responsible transition in low Earth orbit once the ISS operations come to an end.
It is worth noting that while SpaceX will be responsible for building the deorbit spacecraft, NASA will be in charge of its operations throughout its mission. This spacecraft is expected to destructively break up during the re-entry process, in addition to the space station itself.
Since its launch in 1998, the ISS has seen astronauts from various agencies such as CSA, ESA, JAXA, NASA, and State Space Corporation Roscosmos. Each agency was responsible for managing and controlling the hardware that they provided for the space station.
While the United States, Japan, Canada, and the participating countries of ESA have all committed to operating the ISS until 2030, Russia has committed to continuing its operations until at least 2028. Currently, the ISS is in its 24th year of continuous crewed operations, and it has already successfully conducted over 3,300 experiments in microgravity. This is a testament to the incredible advancements and discoveries that have been made possible by the ISS over the years.
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