The International Space Station (ISS), one of humanity's greatest architectural feats, is set to be decommissioned by the end of 2030 [2a192335] [9b36859a]. This decision marks the end of an era for the largest peacetime international project and the most complex engineering exercise ever undertaken. However, the retirement of the ISS does not mean the end of space stations. Instead, private companies will take the lead in the next era of space stations, with NASA serving as an anchor client [2a192335] [9b36859a].
Continuous occupation in space is crucial for the future of space travel. To ensure this, NASA will pay for access to private space stations and share them with other customers. These future stations are expected to be more automated, smaller in size, and easier to maintain compared to the ISS [2a192335].
The decommissioning process for the ISS is estimated to take two years. The SpaceX Starship, a fully reusable spacecraft currently under development, may be utilized for the retirement procedures [2a192335] [4ffb42b8] [9b36859a].
In a recent development, NASA has awarded SpaceX a contract worth US$843 million to assist in the decommissioning of the ISS [9c12feb0] [a51205f5] [b23e66b6] [e2a8c76c] [9b36859a]. The contract involves the construction of a vehicle capable of pushing the ISS into Earth's atmosphere for its planned destruction around 2030. The vehicle, known as the US Deorbit Vehicle, will be built by SpaceX under the new contract [9c12feb0] [a51205f5] [b23e66b6] [e2a8c76c] [9b36859a].
The decision to award SpaceX the contract comes as part of NASA's efforts to ensure its own deorbit abilities in case Russia, one of the primary partners in the ISS, is unable to perform the task. The US, Japan, Canada, and the countries under the European Space Agency have committed to the space station partnership through 2030, while Russia will remain a partner through 2028 [9c12feb0] [9b36859a].
NASA has been funding the early development of privately built space stations to maintain a US presence in low-Earth orbit after 2030. The US believes that having a commercial replacement for the ISS is crucial to compete with China's newer space station [9c12feb0] [9b36859a].
According to a recent report by Upworthy, NASA plans to bring down the International Space Station (ISS) safely to Earth after 26 years of operation [9b36859a]. The process will be carried out with the help of a Deorbit Vehicle designed by SpaceX. The primary structure of the ISS cannot be replaced or repaired practically, but many other parts can be replaced or repaired while in orbit. NASA's experience shows that the actual forces imparted to the station have been less than initially forecasted. The ISS was built in orbit by joining separated modules through spacewalks and using NASA's space shuttles to transport heavier pieces. The last component sent to the ISS was the Prichal, a Russian docking module. NASA plans to repurpose the facility in orbit and pass off its operation to the private industry, but in the worst-case scenario, they might blow up the ISS in space. SpaceX will aid NASA in bringing down the ISS around 2031, for which NASA will pay SpaceX up to $843 million [9b36859a].
In another recent development, NASA has awarded a contract to Leidos, Inc. of Reston, Virginia, to provide mission support for the agency's International Space Station Program and Artemis campaign [035adbd9]. The Cargo Mission Contract 4 has a total potential value of $476.5 million, with a base period from Oct. 1, 2024 to Sept. 30, 2026, followed by three option periods. Leidos will provide analytical and physical processing for NASA missions, as well as perform engineering, maintenance, and operations support. The contractor also develops, fabricates, and certifies hardware as required to support mission objectives. Leidos will be responsible for implementing the space station and Artemis manifest requirements for launch, return, and disposal, as well as support logistical and integration functions to maintain adequate crew provisions and supplies to sustain human presence in space [035adbd9].
In the latest development, NASA has selected SpaceX to build a 'spacewalk' vehicle to bring the International Space Station (ISS) back to Earth by 2030. SpaceX will receive a contract worth up to $843 million to develop the vehicle, which is expected to be similar to the Dragon series used to transport crews and cargo to the ISS. The initial process involves allowing the ISS to start a natural 'orbit decline' process, gradually bringing it closer to Earth's surface. In 2030, the ISS crew will make their final landing to Earth, with the SpaceX Tug vehicle binding itself to the ISS and pulling it towards the planet's atmosphere. Most of the ISS is expected to burn up in the atmosphere, but some components may survive and will be targeted to fall in uninhabited ocean areas to minimize risk to humans and property on land [adf97010].