Over the past decade, SpaceX has established itself as a leader in space exploration. Recently, the company was awarded a $680 million contract to deorbit the International Space Station (ISS), according to documents released by NASA on Tuesday.
NASA announced its plan to deorbit the ISS in 2022 but only selected SpaceX as its contractor last month. SpaceX has been tasked with developing a new vehicle, described as a “tug boat,” to push the ISS into the Pacific Ocean from space. Elon Musk’s company received the contract valued at $843 million for this mission.
Based in Hawthorne, California, SpaceX was chosen over two other competitors, Northrop Grumman Systems and AlphaSpaces. According to a source selection statement made public Tuesday, AlphaSpaces’s proposal was deemed “unacceptable” and was excluded from the competition.
SpaceX’s “mission suitability,” which assesses factors like small business utilization, management approach, and technical approach, scored 822 out of 1,000. The proposal had five strengths, three significant strengths, and one weakness.
In comparison, Northrop’s score was 589 out of 1,000, with the report noting three strengths and seven weaknesses. Northrop’s proposal had an incomplete approach to procuring hardware, among other issues. Additionally, Northrop’s costs were higher than SpaceX’s, described by NASA as “significantly higher” than $680 million. The firms’ past performances were also evaluated; SpaceX’s was rated as “very high,” while Northrop’s was rated as “moderate.”
The ISS has been orbiting Earth since construction began in 1998, hosting over 250 visitors from 20 countries since the first crew arrived in November 2000. Currently, the ISS accommodates crews from SpaceX, Soyuz, and Boeing.
The lifespan of the ISS has been extended multiple times, but allowing it to remain in space past 2030 is deemed risky. The space station’s orbit is expected to naturally decay by 2026, preparing it for deorbiting around mid-2030.
“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,” said Ken Bowersox, an associate administrator for NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate, in a statement last month. “This decision also supports NASA’s plans for future commercial destinations and allows for the continued use of space near Earth.”