So, SpaceX just got the green light to crash the ISS into the Pacific. Yup, they’re basically taking out the cosmic trash.
Since 1998, the International Space Station has been zooming around Earth, doubling as a research hub and a really expensive piece of space real estate. But come 2030, its operational life hits the end of the line.
We can’t just leave the ISS floating up there indefinitely because, well, it would eventually break apart and give us an unasked-for meteor shower. Think of it like leaving your leftover pizza out – it’s going to get gross fast.
NASA’s brilliant solution? Toss it into the Pacific Ocean like some interstellar dunk tank. That’s where SpaceX comes in, tasked with building the deorbit vehicle. This fancy craft will ensure the ISS makes its way down safely, avoiding any accidental “oops” moments of debris raining down on us.
With a cool $843 million contract on the table, let’s hope SpaceX nails this space janitor gig without a hitch.
