NASA has recently granted SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk, the authority to dispose of the International Space Station (ISS) by the year 2030. The ISS has been a hub of scientific experiments and international collaboration since the year 2000 when astronauts from different countries began occupying it.
The space station, which has been jointly maintained by the US, Russia, Japan, Europe, and Canada since 1998, was only agreed to be operated until 2030. This decision marked a new era of global cooperation post the Cold War. However, once the agreements expire, the ISS will need to be brought out of orbit, and SpaceX has been awarded an $843 million contract to carry out this task.
According to NASA, SpaceX will develop a vehicle that will tow the space station through the atmosphere, causing it to “destructively break up” before crashing into the ocean, away from populated areas. This process is essential for the safe disposal of the ISS. NASA’s associate administrator for Space Operations Mission Directorate, Ken Bowersox, emphasized that the ISS has been a cornerstone for scientific research, exploration, and partnerships in space.
Once the ISS is decommissioned, it does not mean that low-orbit space will remain empty. Several private companies, including SpaceX, Axiom, Blue Origin, and Vast, are already working on developing commercial space stations that could potentially launch as early as next year. This transition aligns with NASA’s plans to shift towards commercially owned space destinations closer to Earth.
The ISS has incurred significant costs, estimated to be around €100 billion (£84.6 billion) over a span of 30 years, according to the European Space Agency. By transitioning to commercial space stations, NASA aims to explore new opportunities for space exploration and research while fostering innovation in the commercial space sector.
Overall, the decision to grant SpaceX the authority to dispose of the ISS marks a significant shift in space exploration and commercialization. It opens up new possibilities for the future of human presence in space and highlights the importance of collaboration between government space agencies and private space companies. As we look ahead to the next decade, the space industry is poised for exciting developments that could shape the way we perceive and interact with space.
