NASA's Future Plans: Space Tugs, Private Tenants, and Mission Prioritization
TL;DR Summary
NASA has allocated $180 million in its 2024 budget request to begin developing a "space tug" that can safely de-orbit the International Space Station (ISS) and bring it down over the open ocean. The move comes as Russia's Roscosmos plans to leave the ISS earlier than expected to pursue its own orbital station. The ISS is currently scheduled for decommissioning in 2030, and Russia had planned to use robotic Progress vehicles to deorbit the station. NASA's space tug is expected to cost just under $1 billion, and the agency hopes it will be useful for other space transportation missions.
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