NASA wants to bring back some small items from inside the space station for museum display
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — SpaceX will use a powerful, souped-up capsule to shove the International Space Station out of orbit once time is up for the sprawling lab.
NASA gave SpaceX a $843 million contract to bring down the station — the biggest structure ever built off the planet.The space station is already is showing signs of age. Russia and the U.S. launched the first pieces in late 1998, and astronauts moved in two years later. Europe and Japan added their own segments, and Canada provided robotic arms.
That strategy — already in place for station cargo and crew deliveries — will free NASA up to focus on moon and Mars travel. Besides, there’s no spacecraft as big as NASA’s old shuttles to bring everything down. Another option would be to boost the empty station to a higher, more stable orbit. But that, too, was dismissed given the logistical issues and the increased risk of space junk.Visiting spacecraft periodically boost the space station so it remains in an orbit approximately 260 miles high. Otherwise, it would keep getting lower and lower until it plunged, uncontrolled, from orbit.
NASA and its partners considered using three Russian supply ships for the job, but a more robust craft was needed. The call went out to industry and, in June, SpaceX won the contract for a deorbit vehicle.SpaceX plans to use an ordinary Dragon capsule — the kind that carries supplies and astronauts to the space station — but with a much bigger trunk housing a record 46 engines and more than 35,000 pounds of fuel.
The space agency had hoped one of the first space shuttle crews could attach a rocket to control Skylab’s descent or boost its orbit. But the shuttle wasn’t ready by then, with its first flight not until 1981.
Indonesia Berita Terbaru, Indonesia Berita utama
Similar News:Anda juga dapat membaca berita serupa dengan ini yang kami kumpulkan dari sumber berita lain.
NASA awards SpaceX with $843 million contract to de-orbit International Space StationISS launched in 1998, is expected to be needed to be brought out of orbit by 2030
Baca lebih lajut »
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket experiences rare failureThe SpaceX Falcon 9 failure marks a rare setback for the rocket, highlighting challenges in space missions and technological relia...
Baca lebih lajut »
NASA faces $80,000 claim after space debris hit family homeAn American family is claiming more than $80,000 from NASA after a small piece of debris fell from space and smashed through the r...
Baca lebih lajut »
Family sues Nasa after space debris from ISS smashes through roof, hits sonThe death trap cylinder was moving at such speed it formed clean holes in roof
Baca lebih lajut »
NASA hit with $80,000 claim after space debris crashes into family homeOn March 8, the object weighing just 700 grams hit Alejandro Otero's home in Naples, Florida
Baca lebih lajut »
Europe satellite operator drops Ariane 6 rocket for SpaceX: reportEuropean Satellite Operator Chooses SpaceX: EUMETSAT switches from Ariane 6 to SpaceX Falcon 9 for its weather satellite launch, m...
Baca lebih lajut »