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SpaceX To Develop Deorbit Vehicle For International Space Station

NASA Awards SpaceX $843 Million Contract For Safe Decommissioning Of ISS   NASA has taken a significant step toward safely retiring the International Space Station (ISS) by awarding SpaceX a contract worth up to $843 million. This contract involves the development of a deorbit vehicle designed to guide the ISS to its final resting place. This move underscores NASA's commitment to a responsible transition in low Earth orbit as it shifts its focus to deeper space exploration. The Deorbit Vehicle: A Technical Marvel The deorbit vehicle, slated for potential launch later this decade, will attach to the ISS—a massive structure weighing nearly 1 million pounds and spanning the size of a football field. Once latched on, the vehicle will steer the ISS out of orbit, ensuring it burns up safely upon re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere at speeds exceeding 17,000 miles per hour (27,359 kilometers per hour). NASA's announcement highlights the collaborative nature of this endeavor, involving al...