Featured Image Credit: Stocktrek Images / Getty
Since November 2, 2000, the International Space Station has been continuously manned. We've celebrated 72 expeditions, and with 'stranded' astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore having just spent an extended nine months up there, the ISS is back in the limelight thanks to the musings of Elon Musk.
There are fears that the ISS is past its sell-by date, and with it being outshone by China's much more modern Tiangong Space Station which was launched in 2021, NASA is looking ahead at what comes next.
Although the ISS has expeditions planned up to No. 75, Elon Musk has grand plans to destroy the space station and has been awarded a lucrative contract to get it done.
Decommissioning space stations isn't anything new, and alongside NASA's Skylab, the Mir Space Station was deliberately crashed into the South Pacific Ocean in 2001.
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NASA had originally wanted to preserve parts of the ISS for historical reasons, but deeming it too costly, the plan is for Musk's SpaceX to bring it down to Earth with a bump.
After landing the jaw-dropping $843 million contract in June 2024, SpaceX is now working on plans to use a giant Deorbit Vehicle that will act as a space tugboat to drag it into the atmosphere for re-entry.
Back when the contract was announced, NASA Director of Space Operations Ken Bowersox said: "This decision also supports Nasa's plans for future commercial destinations and allows for the continued use of space near Earth."
Much of the ISS is expected to burn up in the atmosphere, with the rest due to land in the Pacific Ocean's remote Point Nemo.
Elsewhere, there are fears about the environmental impact of deorbiting the football pitch-sized ISS.
Originally launched in November 1998 and now growing to include an impressive 16 modules, the 4,30,000 kg ISS is sure to leave a massive space...in space.
The USA and Russia lead the ISS project, with Europe, Canada, and Japan all having supporting roles. Despite the Western partners agreeing to fund the ISS until 2030, Russia has said it will be involved until at least 2028.
The decision is up to the President, but my recommendation is as soon as possible.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 20, 2025
I recommend 2 years from now.
Even though the original plan was to deorbit the ISS in 2030, Musk wants to move things forward and has spectacularly claimed 'it's time' to destroy the ISS. It comes as the world's richest man instead sets his sights on flying to Mars and achieving 'self-sustaining' life within the next 20 to 30 years.
When it comes to when the ISS could be deorbited, Musk clarified that while it's up to President Donald Trump, he wants to target 2027.
Speaking to Forbes, space law expert Dr. Lieberman explained how bringing the ISS down in 2027 could lead to a major backlash: "The U.S.A. would lose an important venue of diplomacy should it choose to retire the ISS before an alternative is launched."
Musk's claims that the ISS has outlived its usefulness have also been disputed by Williams, who argued: "This place is ticking. It's just really amazing. So I would say we're actually in our prime right now." Still, with the ISS reportedly costing NASA $3 billion a year, the ever-frugal Mr. Musk sees it as a waste of money.
