NASA Expects Elon Musk’s SpaceX To Destroy International Space Station In 2030. NASA is preparing for the destruction of the International Space Station (ISS) with Space X set to push it out of orbit and eventually break up over a desolate area in the ocean. The American Space Agency is working towards replacing the ISS in the 2030s.
Dana Weigel, ISS program manager at NASA, said SpaceX’s newly commissioned re-entry vehicle will only push the ISS into Earth’s atmosphere 12 to 18 months after the complex drifts down from its normal orbit. She highlighted that they would leave the crew on board as long as possible to help maintain the station and keep it healthy.
Weigel said the astronauts will leave six months before to the final re-entry when the ISS reaches 220 kilometers. She explained its low as human vehicles are typically rated to fly – the typical ISS orbit is 400km above Earth.
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SpaceX Secured $843mn Contract for Deorbit Vehicle
NSA highlighted the ISS Deorbit Vehicle will be a custom-built, one-of-a-kind spacecraft. It will ensure that the ISS re-enters the atmosphere at the precise place and in proper orientation to secure any wreckage that survives the 3,000 degree heat or re-entry will crash harmlessly into the ocean.
SpaceX was awarded a $843 million contract to build the deorbit vehicle for NASA. Dana said through SpaceX’s Dragon, they can use NASA-certified hardware for a several key systems, like the docking system.
She highlighted that the assembly-level design is uniquely developed for this mission. NASA is using building blocks of components that it’s familiar with and SpaceX has building and operating experience.
Sarah Walker, SpaceX’s director of Dragon mission management, believes the final burn will be the most complex and challenging as it has to be powerful enough to fly the entire space station. It must also resist forces caused by increasing atmospheric drag on the space station to ensure that it terminates in the intended location.
The Deorbit Vehicle will have to have six times as much usable propellant onboard, three to four times the power generation, and storage of Dragon capsules.
