Elon Musk has a big responsibility for the mission
We must address a significant milestone in the space industry: the crucial mission to safely evacuate and decommission the International Space Station (ISS).
After more than two decades of dedicated scientific research, the ISS has reached the end of its operational life.
In response, NASA has unveiled comprehensive plans for the systematic and secure decommissioning of the ISS.
This undertaking is expected to be exceptionally demanding, requiring the diverse expertise of scientists from across the globe, the collaborative efforts of technical producers, the involvement of defence specialists, and the collective input from various other fields.
Furthermore, it has been determined that the mission will utilise a spacecraft from Elon Musk’s SpaceX company, known for its advanced capabilities in space exploration.
This strategic decision underscores the enormous technical and logistical complexity of decommissioning.
The origin and objectives of the International Space Station
The International Space Station (ISS) was initially established in 1998 as a collaborative effort between the space agencies of the United States (NASA), Russia (Roscosmos), Japan (JAXA), the European Union (ESA), and Canada (CSA) with the primary goal of conducting scientific experiments in the unique environment of microgravity and space.
This ambitious project aimed to follow in the footsteps of the Soviet Union’s ‘Mir Space Station,’ a cornerstone of space exploration and research during that era.
In 2000, the ISS officially began its operational phase, effectively becoming a symbol of international cooperation in space exploration.
To facilitate its management and operation, the ISS is divided into two main segments, namely the American and Russian sections, each playing a crucial role in supporting the station’s numerous scientific endeavours.
3,300 research
The International Space Station (ISS) has enabled more than 3,300 research initiatives spanning a wide range of scientific disciplines.
Moreover, since its inception, it has been a pivotal platform for hosting numerous scientific and commercial missions.
Positioned approximately 400 kilometres above the Earth’s surface, the ISS orbits the planet, completing an orbit roughly every 90 minutes.
Having consistently fostered scientific progress for over 24 years, the ISS stands as a beacon of international collaboration and technological advancement in space exploration.
The procedure for removing the space station
NASA has decided to decommission the International Space Station (ISS) by 2030. As part of this process, plans are already underway to safely de orbit the 430-ton space research laboratory, which is currently in a low Earth orbit.
To assist with this complex task, NASA has partnered with SpaceX, the aerospace manufacturer and space transportation company founded by Elon Musk.
The collaboration aims to ensure the ISS is safely removed from orbit without posing any risk to Earth.
Scientists have emphasised the importance of a careful and timely de orbiting process, as abandoning the ISS could lead to an uncontrolled re-entry and potential impact on Earth’s surface.
If not removed, there is a risk of falling to the Earth
According to NASA, the International Space Station must be safely deorbited due to the high risk of re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere over a populated area. To address this concern, NASA has allocated a substantial amount of 843 million US dollars for a contract to produce a specialized aircraft for this purpose. This decision follows a comprehensive feasibility study conducted by NASA.
In light of the urgency and complexity of this task, NASA has determined that the most effective approach is to transfer the responsibility for constructing the necessary aircraft to SpaceX.
Once the aircraft is manufactured, all mission operations and implementation responsibilities will be transferred back to NASA for the safe de orbiting of the International Space Station.
NASA says it has been proposed to remove a lot of space debris freely rotating around the Earth. The United States, Japan, the European Union and Canada will continue to finance the International Space Agency until 2030, while Russia’s Roscosmos space agency is scheduled to end its operations in 2028.
