The International Space Station orbiting about 250 miles above Earth . NASA
The International Space Station ( ISS ) is approach the terminal of its lifetime after more than two decades in low - Earth eye socket .
When the sentence comes about six years from now , NASA and its outside partners will use a so - telephone “ space tug ” — officially known as the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle ( USDV ) — to head the ISS to a secure location from where it will then descend at speed and mostly incinerate up in Earth ’s atmosphere .
The International Space Station orbiting about 250 miles above Earth.NASA
After putting out a call for proposals for the space tower last year , NASA announcedon Wednesday that it has selected SpaceX to ramp up it in a contract deserving $ 843 million .
“ As the agency passage to commercially have space destinations nearer to home , it is important to prepare for the safe and responsible deorbit of the International Space Station in a ascertain way after the oddment of its operational life in 2030 , ” NASA said , adding that SpaceX has been select to uprise and deliver the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle .
“ pick out a U.S. Deorbit Vehicle for the International Space Station will help NASA and its international partners ensure a safe and responsible transition in small - solid ground orbit at the end of station operations , ” said Ken Bowersox , NASA ’s associate executive for Space Operations Mission Directorate , adding that the the orbital research lab “ remains a blueprint for science , geographic expedition , and partnership in space for the benefit of all . ”
After SpaceX has grow the deorbit space vehicle , NASA will take possession of it and run it throughout its of the essence mission . Along with the space post , the blank space tug is expected to burn up up upon reentry into Earth ’s ambiance .
It ’s possible that some parts of the ISS will survive reentry , therefore NASA will undertake to ship those parts plunge toward Point Nemo in the Pacific Ocean , a situation far from nation known as “ the distance graveyard ” as it is often targeted for controlled bloodline of quad junk . The importance of getting the ISS reentry decent was highlighted just recently when a piece of space junk release from the space stationlanded on a Florida family . A part of a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraftalso number down in North Carolina . Neither part had been expected to hold out reentry .
The U.S. , Japan , Canada , and Carry Nation that contribute to the European Space Agency have committed to work the place and sending astronaut there through 2030 , while Russia has send to proceed operations until at least 2028 .
Currently in its 24th year of unendingly crewed operation , NASA identify the ISS as “ a alone scientific platform where crew member conduct experiments across multiple subject of research , including world and outer space scientific discipline , biota , human physiology , strong-arm skill , and technology monstrance not possible on Earth . ”
Commercially built space stations are expected to replace the ISS in low - Earth ambit , and in an additional programme to increase the presence of world in space in long - duration missionary post , NASA is also aiming to builda permanent floor on the moonwhere astronauts will live and work rather like they do on the ISS today .
