" that's designed to pull the aging orbital outpost out of its orbit and burn up during its swan song reentry through the atmosphere.
"This decision also supports NASA’s plans for future commercial destinations and allows for the continued use of space near Earth," said NASA Space Operations Mission Directorate associate administrator Ken Bowersox in the release. "The orbital laboratory remains a blueprint for science, exploration, and partnerships in space for the benefit of all.
Pulling the over 900,000-pound and 358-foot structure, the largest human-made object to have ever orbited our planet, out of its stable orbit and into the atmosphere comes with plenty of risks. Most prominently, experts don't expect the entire thing to simply burn up — giant pieces could survive the ordeal and
To mitigate that risk, NASA is now working with SpaceX to develop a spacecraft designed to guide the monstrous structure down and ensure a safe deorbit, more than likely targeting a splashdown in the ocean.Axiom Space a contract to manufacture the station's first commercial module, known as Hab One, which is scheduled to be launched in 2026.
Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin has also released plans for its own private space station, called the Orbital Reef, under contract with NASA, alongside