All articles tagged with #deorbit
NASA plans a late-2030 controlled deorbit of the International Space Station, guiding it to Point Nemo in the South Pacific—the farthest place from land—to minimize debris risks; breakup will occur in stages, with most of the station burning up on reentry and only a few dense components likely to splash down in the uninhabited ocean region, marking the largest controlled deorbit to date.
The U.S. Space Force awarded Starfish Space a $52.5 million contract to deorbit satellites using the Otter servicing spacecraft—the first end-of-life disposal deal for a large low-Earth orbit constellation. Starfish aims to launch Otter by 2027 to retrieve and dispose of at least one (potentially more) satellites within the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture network, signaling a shift toward affordable, repeatable satellite servicing in orbit.
NASA plans a Jan. 14 medical evacuation of the four Crew-11 astronauts from the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, with undocking imminent and a controlled deorbit to splash down, while weather conditions and splashdown options are being reviewed.
Russia plans to recycle its aging half of the ISS to form the core of a new space station called ROS, after the current ISS is decommissioned post-2030. The decision follows economic setbacks and geopolitical issues, with concerns about the structural integrity and biological hazards of the Russian modules. The new station aims to maintain collaboration with India and continue orbiting in a similar path as the ISS.
The article commemorates 25 years of continuous human presence on the ISS since its first crew in 2000, highlighting its early challenges, growth, and current decline, with plans to deorbit the station by the end of the decade and a shift towards commercial space stations, raising questions about the future of human space habitation.
NASA plans to deorbit the International Space Station (ISS) in the coming years, marking a significant step in space station management and future space exploration strategies.
NASA plans to deorbit the International Space Station in 2030 and shift focus to developing commercial space stations in low-Earth orbit, ensuring continued human presence and research opportunities in space beyond the ISS's retirement.
Up to four Starlink satellites are deorbiting daily, raising concerns about space debris and potential environmental impacts, though they are designed to burn up safely. Experts warn that uncontrolled reentries could pose risks and environmental effects, prompting ongoing research into their broader impact on Earth's atmosphere.
NASA plans to deorbit the International Space Station in 2030 after 25 years of continuous human presence, but will continue space research in low-Earth orbit through developing commercial space stations, with China’s Tiangong station taking over as the longest inhabited station in the meantime.
The International Space Station (ISS) is set for a controlled deorbit into the South Pacific Ocean in 2031, raising concerns about potential environmental impacts on Earth's atmosphere and oceans. While the ISS's reentry is not expected to significantly contribute to ocean pollution compared to other human activities, its atmospheric impact is less understood. NASA has contracted SpaceX to develop a deorbit vehicle for the ISS, but the lack of an international legal framework for space hardware disposal remains a concern. Environmental groups and researchers are calling for more regulations to address these issues.
China's Tianzhou 7 cargo spacecraft, which delivered supplies to the Tiangong space station earlier this year, has been deorbited and burned up in Earth's atmosphere. After undocking from the station on November 10, it reentered the atmosphere on November 17, likely over the South Pacific Ocean. Before reentry, Tianzhou 7 released a 6U cubesat named Bayi-08 for Earth observation and communication purposes. Meanwhile, China has launched the Tianzhou 8 mission to continue resupplying the Tiangong station.
SpaceX is preparing to deorbit the International Space Station (ISS) by 2030, following a successful test where its Dragon rocket performed a "reboost" to maintain the station's altitude. This marks the first time SpaceX has conducted such a maneuver, traditionally done by Northrup Grumman or Roscosmos. The data from these operations will aid in designing a larger spacecraft to deorbit the ISS, which will have triple the engines of a standard Dragon. The ISS is expected to be decommissioned by 2031.
NASA is planning to retire the International Space Station (ISS) by 2030 and is testing SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft for a reboost maneuver, a first step towards developing a deorbit vehicle. This test, scheduled for November 8, will help determine if Dragon can eventually guide the ISS into a controlled descent into the Pacific Ocean. NASA has allocated $180 million in its 2024 budget for this deorbit capability, with SpaceX contracted to design the vehicle, marking a shift from previous reliance on Russia's Progress spacecraft.
SpaceX has been awarded an $843 million contract by NASA to develop a vehicle to deorbit the International Space Station (ISS) by 2030, costing $680 million. The ISS, which has been in orbit since 1998, will be safely guided into the Pacific Ocean. SpaceX was chosen over Northrop Grumman Systems and AlphaSpaces due to its superior proposal and cost-effectiveness.
China's Tianzhou 6 cargo spacecraft, which completed its mission serving the country's space station, was deorbited and burned up in Earth's atmosphere over the South Pacific. The spacecraft, launched in May 2023, delivered supplies, propellant, experiments, and other cargo to China's Tiangong space station. China plans to continue launching Tianzhou spacecraft every eight months to keep Tiangong occupied for at least 10 years.