NASA give $ 830 million contract to Space X for building deorbit vehicle

The SpaceX Crew Dragon Spacecraft Is Docked to the International Space Station. (Representative Image - Canva)

On Wednesday, June 26, the US space organization NASA announced the $830 million contract with Space X for the development of the deorbit vehicle for the International Space Station (ISS).

The space organization sent two requests one was in March 2023 and the other one was in September of the same year. In the request, the agency stated their requirement for the development and delivery of the Deorbit Vehicle. In the contract, the total cost was not mentioned, as it excluded the Launch costs.

Only the developed cost was covered under $ 830 million, the agency issued a statement “Selecting a U.S. Deorbit Vehicle for the International Space Station will help NASA and its international partners ensure a safe and responsible transition in low Earth orbit at the end of station operations. This decision also supports NASA’s plans for future commercial destinations and allows for the continued use of space near Earth,” said Ken Bowersox, associate administrator for Space Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

This contract aims to Broaden the understanding of NASA on space, as it will support deep space exploration, additionally, this project will help the space station (ISS) development in a planned manner.

The specific details on the design of the vehicle are not shared but it is expected to be based on the Dragon spacecraft, which is currently used for cargo and crew transportation to the ISS.

While developing the vehicle, reliability is considered the top priority, ensuring that it has flawless functioning on its first flight and has redundancy and anomaly recovery capabilities for critical deorbit burns.

Unlike ISS cargo and crew transportation, the deorbit vehicle ownership will be in the hands of NASA. This exciting development ensures a responsible transition in low Earth orbit as the ISS completes its mission.