WASHINGTON, June 26,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA is fostering continued
scientific, educational, and technological developments in low
Earth orbit to benefit humanity, while also supporting deep space
exploration at the Moon and Mars. As the agency transitions to
commercially owned space destinations closer to home, it is crucial
to prepare for the safe and responsible deorbit of the
International Space Station in a controlled manner after the end of
its operational life in 2030.
NASA announced SpaceX has been selected to develop and deliver
the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle that will provide the capability to
deorbit the space station and ensure avoidance of risk to populated
areas.
"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."
While the company will develop the deorbit spacecraft, NASA will
take ownership after development and operate it throughout its
mission. Along with the space station, it is expected to
destructively breakup as part of the re-entry process.
Since 1998, five space agencies, CSA (Canadian Space Agency),
ESA (European Space Agency), JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration
Agency), NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), and
State Space Corporation Roscosmos, have operated the International
Space Station with each agency responsible for managing and
controlling the hardware it provides. The station was designed to
be interdependent and relies on contributions from across the
partnership to function. The United
States, Japan,
Canada, and the participating countries of ESA have committed
to operating the station through 2030. Russia has committed to continued station
operations through at least 2028. The safe deorbit of the
International Space Station is the responsibility of all five space
agencies.
The single-award contract has a total potential value of
$843 million. The launch service for
the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle will be a future procurement.
In its 24th year of continuously crewed operations, the space
station is a unique scientific platform where crew members conduct
experiments across multiple disciplines of research, including
Earth and space science, biology, human physiology, physical
sciences, and technology demonstrations not possible on Earth.
Crews living aboard station are the hands of thousands of
researchers on the ground having conducted more than 3,300
experiments in microgravity. Station is the cornerstone of space
commerce, from commercial crew and cargo partnerships to commercial
research and national lab research, and lessons learned aboard
International Space Station are helping to pass the torch to future
commercial stations.
Learn more about space station operations at:
https://www.nasa.gov/station
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SOURCE NASA