NASA's plan to crash ISS into Pacific Ocean

NASA has selected SpaceX to develop the vehicle responsible for deorbiting the International Space Station (ISS), with plans for the operation to commence as early as 2030. The decision comes as the ISS, which has been operational for 26 years, faces aging infrastructure and equipment. Astronauts currently spend significant time on maintenance and repairs, highlighting the need for a new approach as the station's modules continue to deteriorate. The urgency of the deorbiting project is compounded by Russia's announcement to withdraw from the ISS program by 2028, as it seeks to establish its own space station in collaboration with China. Additionally, the ISS is gradually losing altitude due to atmospheric drag, even at its orbit of 248 miles above Earth. In response to these challenges, NASA held an open bid in September 2023, inviting proposals from various aerospace companies. SpaceX's deorbiting vehicle will be owned by NASA and operated from Houston. It will remain attached to the ISS for a year, during which it will adjust the station's orbit remotely. When the time comes to deorbit, the vehicle's 30 engines will reduce the ISS's speed by approximately 93 miles per hour, allowing it to descend gradually through the atmosphere. The entire maneuver is expected to take about an hour, leading the ISS to its final descent into the ocean, although the specifics of its disintegration remain uncertain.