NASA aims to develop a spacecraft capable of steering the International Space Station to a controlled destruction in Earth's atmosphere by 2030.
The International Space Station’s time in orbit will end in 2030. It’ll have to be taken out of its orbit through controlled disintegration into the Earth’s atmosphere. For this, NASA is developing a spacecraft that will maneuver safe disposal of the station.of $27.2 billion to NASA for the fiscal year 2024, which includes $180 million "to initiate the development of a new space tug" that could deorbit the ISS.
Not too happy with the budget allocation, Kathy Lueders, NASA's human spaceflight chief, in a press conference Monday, "A cost estimate we had was a little short of about $1 billion. Our goal is to go out with an RFP [request for proposals], and then, obviously, when we get the proposals, then we're hoping to get a better price than that. But this gives us a healthy start in 2024 to get that critical capability onboard.
Apart from allocation for the ISS, the budget allotted $8.1 billion for the Artemis program of lunar exploration, $949 million for the Mars Sample Return mission which would return Martian rock and soil samples to earth, $500 million to reach net zero carbon emissions from the aviation sector, $2.5 billion in the earth Science program, $158 million for NASA’s Office of STeM engagement, $1.
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 wants new 'deorbit tug' to bring space station down in 2030The agency doesn't want to depend solely on Russian cargo spacecraft to deorbit the ISS.
Read more »
NASA wants 'space tug' to bring International Space Station safely downNASA is looking to develop a space tug to help deorbit the International Space Station in coming years, with the White House budget request allocating $180 million for the spacecraft.
Read more »
How often does the International Space Station have to dodge space debris?Astronauts have to deal with growing amounts of space junk in orbit, but there are procedures on the International Space Station in case of trouble.
Read more »
NASA may use a space tug to decommission the space station | Digital TrendsNASA is aiming to build a special spacecraft capable of guiding the International Space Station to a safe deorbit position when it’s decommissioned in 2030.
Read more »
International Space Station fires thrusters to dodge space junkIt was the second such maneuver in a week for the orbiting lab.
Read more »
'Jesus in Space': Faith and science take center stage on space shuttle flight in new bookA children's book tells the true story of NASA Astronaut Dr. Tom Jones, who flew into space in 1994. Jones, along with two other Catholic astronauts, received Holy Communion mid-flight.
Read more »