Elon Musk has called for the immediate destruction of NASA’s International Space Station, citing its high cost and perceived lack of utility. In a post on X, he stated that the $150 billion lab should be deorbited as soon as possible due to “very little incremental utility.”
The ISS is nearing the end of its operational lifespan and has been plagued by maintenance issues, including a leak in the Russian segment discovered last November. NASA plans to retire the ISS by 2030, with SpaceX tasked with building the deorbit spacecraft.
However, Musk wants this timeline accelerated by two years, potentially three years ahead of schedule. This would require agreement from all ISS partners and funding from Congress. The current contract between NASA and SpaceX covers only the cost of the USDV, not the entire deorbit mission.
Musk’s comments have sparked debate over his true motivations, with some speculating that he wants to free up resources for Mars missions. NASA officials have emphasized the importance of the ISS in supporting research and training for future Mars missions.
Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-14421305/Elon-Musk-destruction-NASA-international-space-station.html