Produced by: Tarun Mishra
NASA has awarded SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, an $843 million contract to develop the vehicle responsible for deorbiting the International Space Station (ISS) when its operational lifespan concludes in the near future.
SpaceX, a private company founded by Elon Musk in 2002, will spearhead the development of the vehicle tasked with safely bringing down the ISS. Despite this, NASA will retain oversight of the mission.
The ISS, launched in 1998 and operated collaboratively by the U.S., Europe, Japan, Canada, and Russia, is slated to be brought out of orbit by around 2030. Russia's commitment extends only until 2028.
Crews have continuously inhabited the ISS since the year 2000, using it as an orbital laboratory for scientific research and international collaboration in space exploration.
Ken Bowersox, NASA's associate administrator for space operations mission directorate, emphasized that the ISS remains a cornerstone for scientific advancements, exploration, and international partnerships in space.
Credit: NASA
This contract underscores NASA's confidence in SpaceX's technological capabilities. The company, headquartered in Hawthorne, California, has been pivotal in advancing space exploration and innovation.
Elon Musk, also known for leading Tesla, the electric car manufacturer, has been a driving force behind SpaceX's mission to push boundaries in space exploration, leveraging his substantial fortune for these endeavours.