NASA is weighing the logistical and political factors at play in decommissioning the International Space Station, which is set to come out of orbit in 2031.
In October of 2000, a Soyuz Rocket carried the first expedition to the International Space Station and thus began the permanent residence aboard the laboratory. Humans have occupied a place in space ever since.
Administrator Bill Nelson said. 'Let's say we didn't have commercial stations that are ready to go. Technically, we could keep the space station going, but the idea was to fly it through 2030 and de-orbit it in 2031.' When the International Space Station de-orbits, it will re-enter the earth’s atmosphere. Most of it will burn up, but some will survive the heat of re-entry. 'It’s as big as a football stadium,' Nelson said.
The company says it is more efficient and cost-effective than what the U.S. and Russians agreed on in the 1990s. 'When you're commercial, you don't have to be political like we had to be in inviting the Russians in 30 years ago,' Manber said. Like the ISS, Voyager’s Starlab will still be an international base. The company is partnering with companies from around the world.
believes the shift to commercial partnerships will also benefit national security.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
NASA taps SpaceX to help destroy International Space Station at the end of its lifeThe commercially-operated space station will replace the current government-funded space station in the next decade.
Read more »
NASA awards SpaceX $843 million contract to destroy the International Space StationBen Turner is a U.K. based staff writer at Live Science. He covers physics and astronomy, among other topics like tech and climate change. He graduated from University College London with a degree in particle physics before training as a journalist.
Read more »
NASA Picks SpaceX to Destroy The International Space StationThe Best in Science News and Amazing Breakthroughs
Read more »
SpaceX Wins $843-Million NASA Contract to Destroy the International Space StationThe world will be watching—literally—as SpaceX tackles possibly what might be its highest-stakes endeavor to date: safely destroying the beloved International Space Station
Read more »
NASA is paying SpaceX to destroy the International Space StationAndrew Paul is Popular Science's staff writer covering tech news. Previously, he was a regular contributor to The A.V. Club and Input, and has had recent work featured by Rolling Stone, Fangoria, GQ, Slate, NBC, as well as McSweeney's Internet Tendency. He lives outside Indianapolis.
Read more »
NASA Hires SpaceX to Destroy the International Space StationScience and Technology News and Videos
Read more »