NASA to replace ISS with SpaceX's 'Axiom Space'

NASA and SpaceX have signed an $843 million contract to make the ISS defunct
An undated image of the ISS. — iStock
An undated image of the ISS. — iStock

NASA is readying itself to replace the International Space Station (ISS) with SpaceX’s Axiom. 

Musk’s aerospace company is at the forefront of this mission to get the job done with its US deorbit vehicle, which is expected to lift off in 2030. This will precede the departure of astronauts who’ll remain on the ISS until it goes defunct. 

read more: NASA cancels Moon rover mission VIPER due to budget constraints

Following this, the station will move from its current orbit of approximately 250 miles above the earth’s surface to a low of 136 miles. 

NASA has handed over a $843 million contract to SpaceX to manage the station’s controlled descent. The space agency will use an aircraft based on its Dragon model for the mission, ensuring the debris falls into the ocean rather than in populated areas. 

The mission will commence in 2026, adding four new parts to the ISS, before the service’s end, Axiom will be turned into a private space.