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Elon Musk’s SpaceX has secured a massive $843 million contract from NASA to conduct the controlled decommissioning of the International Space Station (ISS). This historic milestone puts the company in the spotlight once again, leading a delicate and highly technical process that will bring to a close more than three decades of operations of the most important symbol of international cooperation in space.
Since 1998, the International Space Station has been orbiting the Earth at an altitude of about 400 kilometers, serving as a platform for scientific research and technological advancements in zero gravity. Now, with its operational mission coming to an end, the NASA plans a safe and controlled descent of the gigantic structure, which will be conducted by Elon Musk's SpaceX using an improved version of the Dragon spacecraft.
What will the decommissioning of the ISS look like?
The process will officially begin in 2030, when the station ends its science operations. Eighteen months later, Elon Musk's SpaceX will begin the descent of the station with a specially adapted Dragon, equipped with six times more fuel and thrusters four times more powerful than the standard version of the spacecraft. This complex mission will ensure that the remaining debris from the ISS falls into a specific zone, not yet revealed by NASA, minimizing risks.
Ken Bowersox of NASA’s Office of Space Operations highlighted the importance of SpaceX’s selection: “Selecting a U.S. Reentry Vehicle for the International Space Station will help NASA and its international partners ensure a safe and responsible transition to low-Earth orbit.”
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A promising future for space exploration
While the decommissioning of the ISS is an emotional milestone, it does not represent the end of space research. Today, there are nine operational space stations, including China's Tiangong station, which has been in orbit since 2021. Additionally, Elon Musk's SpaceX continues to expand its contributions with other ambitious projects, such as the Dragonfly mission, which will investigate Titan., Saturn's largest moon, from 2028.
This decommissioning agreement further cements Elon Musk’s SpaceX as a leader in commercial space exploration, while NASA and its partners continue to open new frontiers in space. The destruction of the International Space Station is not only the end of an era, but also the beginning of a new phase for humanity among the stars.
