The contract that NASA has awarded SpaceX is worth $843 million, as per reports. SpaceX, headed by Elon Musk, will construct the vehicle, while NASA will oversee the mission. The deorbit vehicle will be essential for safely guiding the ISS back to Earth by 2030
 "SpaceX wins NASA contract to pull down the International Space Centre out of its orbit")
NASA has awarded SpaceX the contract to develop the vehicle that will eventually bring the International Space Station (ISS) out of its orbit, signalling the end of its operational lifespan.
SpaceX, the private aerospace company controlled by tech magnate Elon Musk, will construct the vehicle, while NASA will oversee the mission. The contract that NASA has awarded SpaceX is worth $843 million, as per a report by the Associated Press.
Launched in 1998, the ISS has served as a hub for scientific research and international cooperation in space for over two decades. Crews of astronauts have continuously occupied the station since 2000.
The station is a collaborative project operated by space agencies from the US, Europe, Japan, Canada, and Russia. All participating countries have committed to maintaining the ISS until 2030, except for Russia, which has pledged to participate only until 2028.
Ken Bowersox, NASA’s associate administrator for the space operations mission directorate, highlighted the importance of the ISS, describing it as a blueprint for science, exploration, and international partnerships in space. The station has been instrumental in various scientific advancements and in fostering international collaboration.
SpaceX, founded by Musk in 2002, has steadily become a pivotal player in space exploration. This contract reinforces SpaceX’s reputation for technological innovation and reliability. The company, based in Hawthorne, California, has been at the forefront of numerous space missions, including launching and landing reusable rockets.
