NASA And SpaceX Provide Details on Historic Space Station Deorbit Mission

During a teleconference today, NASA and SpaceX officials discussed the selection of SpaceX for this critical mission, highlighting the company's proven track record in supporting ISS operations and its capabilities in developing the necessary deorbit technology. Ken Bowersox, Dana Wiel, and Sarah Walker from NASA and SpaceX emphasized the significance of this collaboration, which will pave the way for the transition from the ISS to commercial Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) destinations.

According to Sarah Walker of SpaceX, the deorbit vehicle will be an old Cargo Dragon which will be pulled from SpaceX’s fleet and fitted with the new bespoke manufactured trunk. It’ll require enhanced capabilities, including six times the usable propellant and three to four times the power generation and storage of today's Dragon spacecraft, to ensure a safe and controlled deorbiting process. The complex series of actions, including orbit shaping burns, final reentry burn, and resisting atmospheric drag, will be executed by the deorbit vehicle, utilizing Draco engines for thrust. According to Sarah Walker, Dragon mission management director, 46 Draco engines will be used for attitude control and maneuvers and 22 to 26 aft-facing Draco engines will fire simultaneously for deorbit burn, providing 10,000 Newtons of thrust.

NASA and SpaceX are working closely together to ensure a seamless transition. Planning for the deorbiting of the space station involves delivering and preparing the US deorbit vehicle well in advance. The new deorbit functionality requires updates to the spacecraft and will be deployed about one and a half years before the final re-entry burn. The plan involves docking the US deorbit vehicle to the node two forward Port, performing checkouts, drifting down, and eventually executing the final re-entry burn.

Ken Bowersox, NASA's associate administrator said that Space Station is not designed to be taken apart for bringing large pieces home. He emphasised on the difficulty and expense of bringing large pieces home due to the station's design and practicality. However NASA and its partners also exploring options for bringing back certain items from inside the ISS, such as the ship's Bell and logs, although no dedicated missions are currently planned.

They are considering various potential locations for deorbiting the space station, with the South Pacific Ocean being one of the potential locations

The deorbiting process poses significant challenges, including raising the orbit and extending the life of the ISS, which requires substantial energy and poses increased risks in the micrometeoroid environment. NASA has designed a fault-tolerant approach for deorbit burn challenges and considered unique aspects like dwell time and storage capability in advance.

As the ISS approaches its eventual retirement, NASA is seeking funding for the US deorbit vehicle and associated costs, with a request of $1.5 billion for the purchase of the deorbit vehicle, launch, and associated costs. The agency is also working with partners like Blue Origin, Star Lab LLC, and Axiom on new space stations, aiming to minimize the separation between current and new platforms.

The successful collaboration between NASA and SpaceX on this historic mission marks a significant milestone in the transition from the ISS to commercial LEO destinations, paving the way for a new and exciting era in space exploration and development where private space industry will take the centre stage.

By Azhar