NASA commissions SpaceX to develop a deorbit vehicle for the ISS
SpaceX is awarded a contract by NASA to develop a deorbit vehicle for the controlled descent of the International Space Station (ISS).
(Image: NASA)
The US space agency NASA has commissioned Elon Musk's space company SpaceX to develop and deliver a US deorbit vehicle for the ISS. This was announced by NASA on Wednesday. The spacecraft is intended to bring the International Space Station (ISS) out of orbit in a controlled manner at the end of its operational life in 2030 without endangering people on Earth.
“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. “The orbital laboratory remains a blueprint for science, exploration, and partnerships in space for the benefit of all.”
A total of 843 million US dollars is available for the development of the Deorbit Vehicle, writes NASA. This does not include the launch vehicle, i.e. the entire launch service. This incurs additional costs.
Once the spacecraft has been completed and handed over to NASA by SpaceX, it will become the property of the US space agency. NASA will be solely responsible for its operation throughout the duration of the mission.
Burning up in the Earth's atmosphere
The plan is for the deorbit vehicle to dock with the ISS to bring it out of orbit. The space station and the deorbit vehicle are to "disintegrate destructively" upon entering the Earth's atmosphere - in other words, burn up for the most part. NASA wants to ensure that no debris falls onto inhabited areas.
NASA emphasizes that the five space agencies, Canadian Space Agency (CDA), European Space Agency (ESA), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the Russian state space company Roskosmos and NASA are equally responsible for the safe withdrawal of the International Space Station, which has been in operation since 1998, from space. They each manage and control their own parts of the ISS. The USA, Japan, Canada and the European countries involved in the ESA have committed to the continued operation of the ISS until 2030. Russia intends to remain on board until 2028.
(olb)
