In a groundbreaking move, SpaceX, in partnership with NASA, has revealed plans to decommission the International Space Station (ISS) using a souped-up capsule. The ambitious project aims to burn up the space station on reentry and safely plunge what remains into the ocean.

NASA awarded SpaceX an impressive $843 million contract to bring down the ISS, which is currently the largest structure ever constructed off Earth. This decision came after NASA rejected other options, such as dismantling the station or handing it over to another entity.

Since its initial launch in 1998 by Russia and the U.S., the ISS has expanded with contributions from Europe, Japan, and Canada. It currently spans the size of a football field and weighs nearly 1 million pounds. However, as the space station reaches its 32-year mark in 2031, signs of aging have become apparent.

With the goal of establishing private space stations by 2030, NASA aims to free up resources to focus on future moon and Mars missions. If commercial outposts are not established by then, NASA may consider extending the ISS's life to ensure uninterrupted scientific research.

NASA considered various options, including dismantling the station or boosting it to a higher orbit. However, both options presented logistical challenges and increased risks. Ultimately, the decision was made to use a spacecraft to guide the ISS towards a safe reentry over a remote section of the South Pacific or potentially the Indian Ocean.

SpaceX plans to modify its Dragon capsule, typically used for carrying supplies and astronauts to the space station, to accommodate the task. Equipped with a record-breaking 46 engines and over 35,000 pounds of fuel, the modified Dragon will provide the necessary power to control the ISS during its final descent.

The deorbit vehicle, to be launched 1½ years prior to the planned demise of the space station, will gradually lower the ISS while astronauts remain on board. Six months before the scheduled destruction, the crew will abandon the station and return home. Once the ISS reaches an altitude of about 137 miles, the Dragon capsule will bring it down within four days.

With regards to potential debris, NASA expects denser pieces ranging from the size of a microwave oven to a sedan to survive reentry, creating a narrow debris field about 1,200 miles long. To ensure public safety, the reentry is carefully planned to minimize the risk of harm.

This is not the first time NASA has decommissioned a space station. In 1979, Skylab came crashing down, with debris falling on Australia and the surrounding Pacific. Russia also has experience with this process, as they guided Mir, their previous space station, to a fiery reentry over the Pacific in 2001.

As part of the decommissioning process, NASA aims to bring back select small items from inside the ISS for museum displays. However, due to practical constraints, larger items cannot be saved and will be brought down in one destructive stroke.

The impending decommissioning of the International Space Station marks a pivotal point in space exploration history. By utilizing innovative technologies and collaborations, SpaceX and NASA are paving the way for future ventures into the cosmos while ensuring the safety of our home planet.