He International Space Station The International Space Station (ISS) has been orbiting the Earth continuously for more than 25 years and has been visited by more than 270 astronauts, cosmonauts and commercial astronauts. In January 2031, a special spacecraft designed by SpaceX, also known as the American deorbiter vehicle, will lower the station's orbit until it enters our atmosphere and lands in the South Pacific. July 17thNASA held a live press conference where it released details about the process, including a first look at the Modified SpaceX Dragon Responsible for deorbiting the ISS.
As usual, the company shared details about the press conference and an image of the special Dragon through its official site. Account X (formerly Twitter). SpaceX will reportedly deploy a modified spacecraft that will have six times more fuel and four times more power than “its current Dragon spacecraft.” The image shows that the American deorbiter will have a robust service module instead of the trunk used by the standard Crew Dragon vehicle. This module is larger and has additional foldable solar panels in addition to hull-mounted solar panels.
It also appears to have more Draco engines than the standard Crew Dragon vehicle, which has 18 engines capable of generating 400 Newtons (90 lb).F) each, for a total of 7200 N (360 lb)F) of thrust. Presumably, this means that the American deorbiter will have 72 Draco thrusters (arranged concentrically) and will be capable of generating about 30,000 Newtons (1,440 lb)F) thrust. The image also shows the spacecraft docking with the Kibo module operated by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
NASA announced the selection of SpaceX in End of June The project will be carried out under a single-award contract with a total potential value of $843 million. SpaceX is responsible for developing the spacecraft, while NASA will assume ownership once it is complete and operate it throughout the mission. Both the spacecraft and the ISS are expected to be jettisoned during reentry to the International Space Station, with the remains landing in the “spacecraft graveyard” in the South Pacific. The contract for launch services has not yet been awarded but is expected to be announced shortly.
SpaceX is also responsible for the development of the Human Landing System (HLS), the Starship HLS, which will transport astronauts to the lunar surface as part of the Artemis III and IV missions. SpaceX has also been contracted to launch the core elements of the Moon Gate – he Power and propulsion element (EPP) and the Housing and logistics outpost (HALO) – into lunar orbit using a Falcon Heavy rocket in November 2025.
Since 1998, the International Space Station (ISS) has served as a unique scientific platform, employing crew members from five space agencies, including NASA, the Canadian Space Agency, the European Space Agency (ESA), JAXA, and the Russian State Space Corporation (Roscosmos). During its operational life, crew members have conducted experiments ranging from the effects of microgravity and space radiation on human, animal, and plant physiology. This research will play a vital role as NASA and its international partners conduct long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars in the decades ahead.
The station has also enabled extensive research into space science, biology, physical sciences, and technological demonstrations not possible on Earth. Above all, the ISS has served as a symbol of international cooperation, in keeping with the Outer Space Treaty and its core philosophy of “space is for everyone.” NASA, CSA, ESA, and JAXA have committed to operating the station through 2030, while Roscosmos has pledged to continue operations through at least 2028. Safe deorbiting of the ISS is the responsibility of all five space agencies.
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