Elon Musk accelerates plans for ISS deorbiting to focus on Mars mission
Elon Musk has long dreamed of making humanity an interplanetary species. "His latest intentions around destroying the International Space Station are just now becoming apparent," notes unilad.com.
In June 2024, NASA awarded SpaceX a contract worth 843 million dollars to undertake the "deorbiting" operation of the ISS. As part of this venture, SpaceX is tasked with building a spacecraft capable of safely guiding the station back to Earth, observes unilad.com.
The International Space Station was not designed to last indefinitely. NASA has already announced that its mission will conclude in 2030. However, Musk suggests the station could be retired much earlier.
It is time to begin preparations for deorbiting the Space_Station. It has served its purpose. There is very little incremental utility. Let’s go to Mars - tweeted Musk.
One user asked: "Are you suggesting that the ISS be deorbited prior to 2030? As you know, SpaceX currently as a contract to build the US Deorbit Vehicle to safely bring the station down in 2030."
Musk responded: "The decision is up to the President, but my recommendation is as soon as possible. I recommend 2 years from now."
He also confirmed that he now has plans to build a base on Mars.
After operations on the ISS conclude, the station will gradually lower its orbit over approximately 18 months. Then a modified version of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft - equipped with six times more fuel and four times more powerful engines - will attach to the ISS and direct it towards Earth.
As it enters the atmosphere, the station will break into pieces and burn up, with its remnants falling into the Pacific Ocean.
Ending the ISS mission opens up a new path
The International Space Station was created in 1998 as a result of cooperation between NASA, Roscosmos (Russia), ESA (Europe), JAXA (Japan), and CSA (Canada). The construction of the ISS cost 150 billion dollars, which today, considering inflation, would correspond to around 292 billion dollars (269 billion euros).
Over the years, the ISS has facilitated scientific experiments in microgravity conditions, contributing to developments in medicine, physics, and space technologies.
Ending the ISS mission opens up the way to a new stage of space exploration, emphasizes unilad.com. Elon Musk has repeatedly stated that his ultimate goal is the colonisation of Mars and the construction of permanent bases on the Moon. SpaceX is already working on the Starship spacecraft, which aims to enable long-distance manned flights.
