this post was submitted on 27 Jun 2024
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NASA selects SpaceX to build deorbit vehicle for International Space Station (www.space.com)
submitted 6 months ago by IndustryStandard@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world
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NASA has selected SpaceX to develop a vehicle that will bring the International Space Station to a fiery end when the time comes.

The space agency first asked U.S. aerospace companies for proposals in March 2023 and then again in September of that year. The request was for a "space tug" vehicle that could help deorbit the U.S. sections of the International Space Station (ISS) safely.

On Wednesday (June 26), the agency issued a statement announcing that SpaceX has been selected to develop and deliver the "U.S. Deorbit Vehicle" as it's known. The contract is worth up to $843 million; that total does not include any launch costs, however, and is for the vehicle development only. The vehicle will be responsible for disposing of the space station "in a controlled manner after the end of its operational life in 2030," the statement adds.

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[–] VisualBuilder4@lemmy.world 38 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Technically it’s just a bunch of metal and other stuff but the thought of deorbiting the ISS makes me sad.

[–] Grimy@lemmy.world 15 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (3 children)

I wish they could send it into space so it can orbit the sun forever instead of burning up.

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 7 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Good point, if they’re sending a rocket up there anyway, why not just push it away from earth rather than towards it? Is it because it’s in LEO and there’s a ton of other satellites farther out?

[–] philycheeze@sh.itjust.works 3 points 6 months ago

Much cooler (hotter?) but probably more expensive…

[–] 0x0@programming.dev 2 points 5 months ago

A LaGrange point would be nice... lots of stuff there, could prove useful in a few decades...