Over the past decade, SpaceX has established itself as a leader in space exploration. Now, the company is set to spend $680 million to deorbit the International Space Station (ISS), as revealed in documents released by NASA on Tuesday.
NASA had announced plans to deorbit the ISS back in 2022, and last month, it selected Elon Musk’s SpaceX for the task. SpaceX has been tasked with developing a new vehicle, referred to as a “tug boat,” to guide the station into the Pacific Ocean. The contract awarded to SpaceX for this project is valued at $843 million.
SpaceX, headquartered in Hawthorne, California, was chosen over two other competitors, Northrop Grumman Systems and AlphaSpaces. According to a source selection statement, AlphaSpaces’s proposal was deemed “unacceptable” and was eliminated from consideration.
In evaluating the proposals, SpaceX scored 822 out of 1,000 on “mission suitability,” which encompasses small business utilization, management approach, and technical approach. The evaluation highlighted five strengths, three significant strengths, and one weakness in SpaceX’s proposal.
Northrop, based in Falls Church, Virginia, scored 589 out of 1,000, with the evaluation noting three strengths and seven weaknesses, including an incomplete approach to hardware procurement. Additionally, Northrop’s proposal was more costly than SpaceX’s, with NASA indicating it would cost “higher than” $680 million and later describing it as “significantly higher” overall. Evaluations of past performances rated SpaceX as “very high” and Northrop as “moderate.”
The ISS has been orbiting Earth since its construction began in 1998 and has hosted over 250 visitors from 20 countries since its first crew arrived in November 2000. Currently, the ISS accommodates crews from SpaceX, Soyuz, and Boeing.
The space station’s operational life has been extended multiple times. However, according to the BBC, allowing it to remain in space past 2030 poses risks. The ISS’s orbit will naturally decay in 2026, making it ready for deorbiting by mid-2030.
Ken Bowersox, associate administrator for NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate, stated last month, “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.”