NASA Awards SpaceX $843 Million Contract for ISS Deorbit Vehicle
NASA has selected SpaceX for an $843 million contract to create the vehicle that will deorbit the International Space Station (ISS) at the end of its service life.
SpaceX’s Role and NASA Oversight
SpaceX, a private company led by Elon Musk, will build the vehicle. NASA will oversee the mission, ensuring the ISS’s safe deorbiting process.
International Collaboration
Launched in 1998, the ISS is a joint project of space agencies from the U.S., Europe, Japan, Canada, and Russia. It has been continuously occupied by astronauts since 2000. The ISS is planned to remain operational until 2030, with Russia participating until 2028.
Ken Bowersox on ISS Significance
Ken Bowersox, NASA’s associate administrator for space operations, highlighted the ISS’s role: “The orbital laboratory remains a blueprint for science, exploration, and partnerships in space for the benefit of all.”
SpaceX’s Technological Leadership
This contract boosts SpaceX’s standing in space exploration. Founded by Elon Musk in 2002, SpaceX has advanced space technology significantly. Musk, who also heads Tesla, has a net worth of $220 billion, underscoring his influence in both space and electric vehicles.