NASA has awarded Elon Musk’s SpaceX with a $843 million contract to construct a de-orbit vehicle for the International Space Station (ISS).
Decommissioning a football-field-sized structure in space requires careful planning. Letting it fall uncontrolled could put populated areas at risk.
To ensure a safe descent, this spacecraft, called U.S. Deorbit Vehicle (USDV), will attach to the ISS and guide it towards a controlled re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere after retiring in 2030.
“Selecting a U.S. Deorbit Vehicle for the International Space Station will help NASA and its international partners ensure a safe and responsible transition in low Earth orbit at the end of station operations. This decision also supports NASA’s plans for future commercial destinations and allows for the continued use of space near Earth,” said Ken Bowersox, associate administrator for Space Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
Details kept under wraps
The plans to build a deorbit vehicle were announced in March 2023. The exact design and technical details of the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle remain under wraps.
But reportedly NASA has stated that the de-orbit vehicle won’t be like SpaceX’s Dragon capsule or any other spacecraft currently servicing the station. For the last few years, NASA has used the Dragon capsule to transfer goods and crew members to the orbiting outpost.
This USDV project differs from past collaborations with SpaceX. NASA will acquire full ownership of the deorbit vehicle upon completion and will be responsible for its entire operation. The launch will be contracted separately.
“Along with the space station, it is expected to destructively breakup as part of the re-entry process,” a NASA release mentioned.
New commercial stations to soon come up
The initial plan involved repurposing Russia’s Roscosmos Progress vehicles—commonly used to maintain the ISS’s altitude—for deorbiting the station. However, research indicated the need for a dedicated spacecraft for the deorbiting mission.
Most ISS partners are on board to run the station until 2030. However, Russia has committed to supporting the station until 2028.
Back in 1998, five space agencies joined forces to build this biggest scientific marvel of that time. Apart from NASA, the other space agencies included CSA (Canadian Space Agency), ESA (European Space Agency), JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), and State Space Corporation Roscosmos.
For over two decades, ISS has served as a unique platform for research in biology, space science, and human physiology. Over 3,300 experiments have been conducted in the microgravity environment provided by ISS.
But all good things must come to an end. “The orbital laboratory remains a blueprint for science, exploration, and partnerships in space for the benefit of all,” said Bowersox, in the press release.
As the ISS prepares for decommissioning, the private sector steps up to fill the void. Several private ventures are in the race to build commercial space stations.
Axiom Space is one such player, developing their own Axiom Station. Meanwhile, collaborations are brewing, with Blue Origin’s Orbital Reef project bringing together Sierra Space, Boeing, and Amazon.
Voyager Space is developing Starlab alongside Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. For those looking for a faster view into the future, California’s Vast Space plans to launch their Haven-1 module on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in 2025.
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