Elon Musk has called for the deorbiting of the International Space Station (ISS) as soon as possible, potentially by 2027. In a recent tweet, he stated that it’s time to start preparing for deorbiting the ISS, claiming there is little incremental utility left in the space station. He suggested a two-year timeline for this process.
The ISS was originally planned to be deorbited in 2030, but with SpaceX’s involvement, the plan has been accelerated. NASA has awarded SpaceX a contract worth nearly $1 billion to deorbit the ISS by 2029. However, if Musk’s suggestion is accepted by US President Donald Trump, the timeline may change.
NASA and its international partners, including the European Space Agency (ESA), have expressed concerns about an early end to the ISS. The ESA stated that all matters regarding the ISS are discussed among the involved space agencies. An early deorbit would also have commercial implications, as private companies plan for stations in Low Earth Orbit.
The ISS is currently utilized well, with a typical crew of seven members on board. Any earlier-than-planned deorbiting would be wasteful. Musk’s desire to get to Mars appears to be the driving factor behind his suggestion, but it remains uncertain whether this will become policy. The decision ultimately requires agreement among international partners and US lawmakers.
Source: https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/21/elon_musk_iss_mogensen_insult