NASA’s reckless plan to destroy the International Space Station is set to cost taxpayers a whopping $843 million, with SpaceX being handed the keys to the destruction derby in 2030, the agency’s announcement revealed yesterday.
The ISS, once a symbol of international cooperation, is now on a collision course with oblivion as NASA’s plans for new, commercially owned space stations push it towards the scrap heap of history.
Little is known about the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle, aside from the fact that it’s a secretive, NASA-owned spacecraft designed to carry out the station’s destruction. This contrasts starkly with SpaceX’s existing vehicles, which are built and operated for profit. NASA’s decision to take ownership of this new vehicle raises questions about accountability and transparency.
When the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle and the ISS meet their demise, re-entering the atmosphere in a blaze of fire and destruction, the real challenge for SpaceX will be ensuring that no populated areas are put at risk. A challenge that, given the track record of NASA’s partners, seems increasingly unlikely.
The contract for the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle’s launch will be announced separately, and we can only assume that NASA is desperate to keep the details of this multi-million dollar deal under wraps.
NASA and its partners, including Russia’s Roscosmos, have been shrouded in secrecy regarding the de-orbit mission. Meanwhile, it remains unclear whether this enormous bill is being footed by taxpayers from all participating countries. Is this the true cost of NASA’s reckless ambition?
TechCrunch has reached out to NASA for more information and will update this post if we receive a response. But one thing is clear: this reckless plan to destroy the ISS is a bold new era for NASA – one that reeks of greed and disregard for the public interest.
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