NASA awards SpaceX nearly $1 billion contract to build ISS deorbit spacecraft

Emily DeLetter, USA TODAY

June 27, 2024 at 10:27 a.m.·1 min read

SpaceX will be paid nearly $1 billion to build the spacecraft that will help take the International Space Station out of orbit, NASA announced Wednesday.

The International Space Station will reach the end of its operational life in 2030, and NASA announced that SpaceX has been selected to develop and deliver the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle that will help deorbit the ISS and "ensure avoidance of risk to populated areas."

The contract to SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, has a potential value of $843 million, NASA said.

SpaceX craft should 'destructively breakup' on re-entry

SpaceX will develop the spacecraft, but NASA will take ownership after its development and operate it through the mission, the space agency said. The spacecraft is also expected to "destructively breakup" as part of the re-entry process to Earth.

The International Space Station was launched in 1998, and the first long-term residents arrived in 2000.

Since 1998, five space agencies have operated the ISS, with each agency responsible for managing and controlling the hardware it provides: NASA, the Canadian Space Agency, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and State Space Corporation Roscosmos.

USA TODAY has contacted SpaceX for comment.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: SpaceX gets nearly $1B for International Space Station deorbit craft

Futurism
James Webb Observes Mysterious Structures Above Jupiter's Great Red Spot
The remarkable James Webb Space Telescope has been used to image the furthest reaches of the cosmos. But now, astronomers have leveraged its immense powers on a target far closer to home, Jupiter — and in so doing, they've found mysterious features and structures on the surface of the gas giant that have never been […]
Futurism
There's an Extremely Stupid Reason NASA Scientists Can't Study China's Amazing New Moon Rocks
Earlier this week, China's Chang'e 6 lunar probe landed in Inner Mongolia, delivering the first samples collected from the far side of the Moon. The mission has the international scientific community excited — the far side of the Moon, which permanently faces away from the Earth, remains a bit of a mystery. Only China has […]
Bloomberg
High Court Magnifies Biden’s Misery by Kneecapping Policy Agenda
(Bloomberg Law) -- The US Supreme Court’s sweeping decision slashing the power of the executive branch, coming hours after President Joe Biden‘s poor debate performance, makes it harder for his administration to accomplish his biggest policy ambitions ahead of November’s election.Most Read from BloombergBiden's Defiance Has Democrats Fearing They'll Lose White HouseBiden Asks Donors to Stay Following Disastrous DebateCLOs Have Too Much Money and Are Running Out of Things to BuySingapore Loses La
Insider Monkey
The Top Country With Most Scientists per Capita in the World
We recently compiled a list of the 10 Countries With the Most Scientists per Capita in the World and in this article, we will talk about the top country with the most scientists per capita in the world. Innovation and Growth in the Global Science Industry: AI, Biotechnology, and Market Trends The global science industry […]
Sky News
Wandsworth jail: Woman arrested over video 'showing prison officer having sex with inmate in cell'
A woman has been arrested over a social media video allegedly showing a member of prison staff having sex with an inmate in a jail cell. Scotland Yard said it launched an investigation on Friday "after officers were made aware of a video allegedly filmed inside HMP Wandsworth". It added a woman was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office the same day and taken into police custody.
INSIDER
Kamala Harris' camp is mad that Newsom and Whitmer are being floated as Biden replacements over the VP
Harris is seen by many as a natural potential successor to Biden. But an array of Democrats believe her middling approval ratings are a liability.
The Canadian Press
Why NASA astronauts are delayed at the space station after Boeing Starliner launch
NEW YORK (AP) — When two veteran NASA astronauts blasted off on a test drive of Boeing's new capsule, they expected to head home from the International Space Station in a week or so.
The Canadian Press
NDP's Ashton pays back some money from Christmas trip initially billed to taxpayers
OTTAWA — A New Democrat member of Parliament has paid back a portion of the thousands of dollars she spent on a Christmastime trip for herself and her family that was paid for with public money. The federal New Democrats said Manitoba MP Niki Ashton Reimbursed the House of Commons administration for $2,900, part of the more than $17,000 in costs she incurred during a Christmas Day trip to Quebec City followed by a visit to Montreal. Public expenses show Ashton, her husband and two children flew
Reuters
North Korea state media says there is an 'important report' amid key party meeting
SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korea's state news agency said in a one-line dispatch on Sunday there was "important news" but did not provide details. Leader Kim Jong Un is presiding over a key meeting of the ruling party to review the performance of the party in the first half of the year. In a separate report on Sunday morning following the "important news" dispatch, KCNA news agency said that Kim made a speech on the focus of the second half of the year during the party's gathering and addressed "deviations" hampering stable economic development.
The Canadian Press
NASA astronauts will stay at the space station longer for more troubleshooting of Boeing capsule
Two NASA astronauts will stay longer at the International Space Station as engineers troubleshoot problems on Boeing’s new space capsule that cropped up on the trip there.
The Canadian Press
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs budget to close $46.8B budget deficit
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday signed California's budget to close an estimated $46.8 billion deficit through $16 billion in spending cuts and temporarily raising taxes on some businesses.
Business Insider
A frozen wolf discovered in Siberia turned out to be 44,000 years old. It's so well-preserved that scientists are checking its gut for ancient viruses.
Locals found this first-of-a-kind Pleistocene wolf in Siberia. It's so mummified that scientists hope to find remnants of its last meal in its belly.
Rock Hill Herald
Stolen truck bursts into flames during deputy pursuit in South Carolina. Man arrested
The Texas man was identified as a “violent offender” and a “threat to law enforcement.”
The Canadian Press
4 Missouri prison guards charged with murder, and a fifth with manslaughter, in death of Black man
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Four Missouri prison guards were charged Friday with murder, and a fifth with accessory to involuntary manslaughter, in the December death of a Black man who was pepper sprayed, had his face covered with a mask and was left in a position that caused him to suffocate while in custody at a correctional facility, according to a complaint filed Friday.
CNN
Boeing Starliner spacecraft could wait months before return, but officials say astronauts aren’t stranded
Engineers on the ground will use that time to try to better understand issues plaguing the spacecraft.
USA TODAY
Enjoy the beach this summer, but beware the sting of the jellyfish
With a baking hot summer predicted, Americans will flood to the beach. They’ll face jellyfish encounters.
The Canadian Press
Indictment accuses former Uvalde schools police chief of delays while shooter was 'hunting' children
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The police chief for schools in Uvalde, Texas, failed to identify an active shooting, did not follow his training and made critical decisions that slowed the law enforcement response to stop a gunman who was “hunting” victims and ultimately killed 21 people at Robb Elementary, according to an indictment unsealed Friday.
Reuters
Space Pioneer says part of rocket crashed in central China
BEIJING (Reuters) -Beijing Tianbing Technology Co said on Sunday that the first stage of its Tianlong-3 rocket under development had detached from its launch pad during a test due to structural failure and landed in a hilly area of the city of Gongyi in central China. There were no reports of casualties after an initial investigation, Beijing Tianbing, also known as Space Pioneer, said in a statement on its official WeChat account. Parts of the rocket stage were scattered within a "safe area" but caused a local fire, according to a separate statement by the Gongyi emergency management bureau.
People
Law Enforcement Source Says Arrests Should Be Made After Matthew Perry's Death: Here's What Could Happen Next
Matthew Perry died in October 2023 at the age of 54 from acute effects of ketamine, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner
The Independent
The Supreme Court just ended ‘Chevron.’ What does that mean and how far will its impact reach?
Federal agencies such as the IRS, FDA and EPA will have to turn to Congress and courts for guidance under the new ruling

SpaceX craft should 'destructively breakup' on re-entry

Latest Stories