NASA has confirmed that Elon Musk’s company, SpaceX, has landed a significant contract to design a ‘deorbit’ vehicle for the International Space Station (ISS).

This deorbit vehicle will guide the ISS into a lower orbit when it concludes its operations and is retired from service in 2030.

The primary goal of this mission, overseen by Musk’s company, is to prevent any risk of the space station posing a threat to populated areas.

There are various methods to retire a satellite. Some are set to burn up as they re-enter Earth’s atmosphere, posing no threat. Others are sent off into deep space. However, some are deorbited back to Earth, aimed to splash down in the Pacific Ocean, far from any inhabited locations.

Photo: Cosmonauts on board the ISS. (NASA / Handout / via Getty)

It is this third option that awaits the ISS, with plans to deorbit and crash it into the ocean.

Ken Bowersox, the Associate Administrator for Space Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, shared: “Selecting a US Deorbit Vehicle for the International Space Station will help NASA and its international partners ensure a safe and responsible transition in low Earth orbit at the end of station operations. This decision also supports NASA’s plans for future commercial destinations and allows for the continued use of space near Earth. The orbital laboratory remains a blueprint for science, exploration, and partnerships in space for the benefit of all.”

Since its launch, the ISS has stood as a symbol of international cooperation in a world often divided and hostile.

Photo: The exterior of the ISS. (Stocktrek Images / Getty)

Astronauts from various countries have visited the station, conducting scientific experiments, observations, and educational activities. Enthusiastic hobbyists even try to communicate with the station as it orbits overhead.

The ISS is scheduled to be retired from service in 2030, marking the end of its operational life and symbolizing the close of an era.

As for what comes after the ISS, the future remains uncertain. Some advocate for a new station, while others point out the high costs of human space missions and argue that robotic missions are more economical and practical for scientific pursuits.

Of course, given Elon Musk’s ventures like Twitter/X and Tesla’s Cybertruck, some might jest that NASA could have saved money by merely selling the ISS to Musk and waiting for it to crash on its own!