Part 7/9:
The ISS's retirement may lead to budget reallocation within NASA, aiming to direct funds towards Mars missions and the development of newer space infrastructure. Musk’s point is that maintaining the ISS costs over $3 billion annually. As parts become harder to source and maintenance becomes increasingly expensive, repurposing these funds could bolster efforts toward sustainable multi-planetary exploration.
In support of Musk’s vision, NASA recently awarded SpaceX an $843 million contract to develop a Deorbit Vehicle (USDV) designed to carry out a controlled deorbit of the ISS. Scheduled operations would include launching the USDV, maintaining the station’s orbit long enough to ensure safe disposal, and targeting desolate areas of the ocean for final descent.