'Served its purpose'—Musk wants to crash ISS sooner than planned
What's the story
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has proposed an early deorbit of the International Space Station (ISS), nearly three years ahead of its scheduled end in 2030. The unexpected suggestion came after a disagreement with a seasoned astronaut. "It is time to begin preparations for deorbiting the Space Station. It has served its purpose. There is very little incremental utility. Let's go to Mars," Musk said.
Proposed timeline
Musk's proposal for ISS deorbiting timeline
Musk's first comment on ISS was a little vague. But when asked if he was implying NASA and the US government should adhere to the 2030 end-of-life date or accelerate the process, he made his position clear. "The decision is up to the President, but my recommendation is as soon as possible. I recommend two years from now," he said. This means Musk—a major player in global spaceflight and influential person working with President Trump—wants to deorbit ISS by 2027.
Contract details
SpaceX's role in ISS deorbiting
NASA has contracted SpaceX to guide the ISS out of orbit at the end of its operational life, currently planned for 2030. The up to $843 million contract tasks SpaceX with constructing the United States Deorbit Vehicle (USDV). It will play a crucial role in safely decommissioning the ISS, a structure about the size of a football field. Once completed, NASA will take over and operate the vehicle for final maneuvers needed for controlled re-entry over a remote ocean region.
Decision process
ISS deorbiting requires international approval
Notably, the decision to deorbit the ISS early would need approval from all five space agencies that contributed to its assembly, including NASA, Roscosmos (Russia), ESA (European Space Agency), JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), and CSA (Canadian Space Agency). Russia has shown interest in leaving the ISS program early and is only committed until 2028.