Keystone
NASA has chosen SpaceX for the construction of the vehicle which, around 2030, will have to bring down the International Space Station which has now reached the end of its life.
The 843 million dollar contract involves the development of a “space tug” that will have to dock it and accompany it in a controlled return to Earth, over a remote oceanic region such as the South Pacific.
NASA announced this in a statement released on June 26, also explaining that this is the best option compared to alternatives such as dismantling the ISS into smaller components or transporting it to orbits further away from Earth.
«Ensuring a safe transition»
“Selecting a vehicle to deorbit the International Space Station will help NASA and its international partners ensure a safe transition to low-Earth orbit at the end of station operations,” Ken Bowersox, NASA associate administrator for space operations, said in a statement.
«This decision also supports NASA’s plans for future commercial stations and enables the seamless use of near-Earth space. The ISS – adds Bowersox – will remain a model for science, exploration and international collaboration in space”.
The retirement of the Space Station is scheduled for 2030, the date until which NASA and other international partners have committed to keeping the Space Station active, with the exception of Russia which has confirmed its support only until 2028.
However, in the event that it is decided to extend the life of the ISS, the contract also provides for the possibility that the tow vehicle remains stored waiting to be used.
SDA
