{"id":4801,"date":"2024-06-28T15:05:40","date_gmt":"2024-06-28T15:05:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dailywashingtoninsider.com\/index.php\/2024\/06\/28\/spacex-given-permission-to-destroy-the-international-space-station\/"},"modified":"2024-06-28T15:05:40","modified_gmt":"2024-06-28T15:05:40","slug":"spacex-given-permission-to-destroy-the-international-space-station","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailywashingtoninsider.com\/index.php\/2024\/06\/28\/spacex-given-permission-to-destroy-the-international-space-station\/","title":{"rendered":"SpaceX given permission to destroy the International Space Station"},"content":{"rendered":"
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NASA has given Elon Musk’s SpaceX permission to destroy the International Space Station (ISS) by 2030.<\/p>\n

The space<\/strong> station has been continually occupied since 2000 by astronauts doing more than 3,300 scientific experiments above our heads.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

But the countries operating the ISS<\/strong> only agreed to run it until 2030 at the latest.<\/p>\n

Since 1998, the US, Russia, Japan, Europe and Canada have maintained different sections of the ISS. The agreements to jointly run the space station marked a new era of global cooperation after the Cold War.<\/p>\n

But when those agreements run out, the space station will need to be brought out of orbit and Elon Musk’s SpaceX has been given the $843m (\u00a3666.4m) contract to do it.<\/p>\n

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The company will build a vehicle to tow the space station through the atmosphere where it will “destructively break up”, according to NASA<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Crash landing<\/strong><\/p>\n

It will then crash into the ocean, away from populated areas, along with the SpaceX<\/strong> vehicle.<\/p>\n

“The orbital laboratory remains a blueprint for science, exploration, and partnerships in space for the benefit of all,” said Ken Bowersox, NASA’s associate administrator for Space Operations Mission Directorate.<\/p>\n

While SpaceX will develop the deorbit spacecraft, NASA will take ownership after development and operate it throughout its mission.<\/p>\n

But once the ISS is destroyed, low-orbit will not lie empty.<\/p>\n

Private companies including SpaceX, Axiom, Blue Origin and Vast are developing commercial space stations that could launch as soon as next year.<\/p>\n

“[Selecting the deorbit vehicle] supports NASA’s plans for future commercial destinations and allows for the continued use of space near Earth,” said Mr Bowersox.<\/p>\n

The ISS costs the various space agencies \u20ac100bn (\u00a384.6bn) to run, according to the European Space Agency, over 30 years.<\/p>\n

NASA said the agency is transitioning to “commercially owned space destinations closer to home”.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

This post appeared first on sky.com<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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