Soon enough, the International Space Station (ISS) will reach its end of life, and the decision of how to safely dispose of the 430-tonne structure will need to be made.

Since the ISS is the largest object in orbit around Earth, leaving it up there isn’t exactly an option.

If something were to collide with it, it could break apart, creating a dangerous cloud of debris and essentially threatening other satellites.

‘The space station is a unique artefact whose historical value cannot be overstated,’ NASA wrote in a white paper.

‘NASA considered this when determining if any part of the station could be salvaged for historical preservation or technical analysis.’

Matthias Kulka / Getty

However, the US space agency noted that salvaging the station was too costly and complex to follow through, leaving one option.

To completely obliterate it, which is where Tesla CEO Elon Musk comes in.

His company, SpaceX, was awarded a huge contract by NASA on June 26 to handle the ISS’s deorbiting. The contract is worth an eye-watering value of $843 million.

The plan involves using a special Deorbit Vehicle, which will act as a space tugboat, dragging the ISS down into the atmosphere where it will mostly burn upon re-entry.

‘Selecting a US Deorbit Vehicle for the International Space Station will help NASA and its international partners ensure a safe and responsible transition in low Earth orbit at the end of station operations,’ Ken Bowersox, associate administrator for Space Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington stated.

Marc Piasecki / Contributor / Getty

Given the size of the ISS, some parts will likely survive the intense heat of re-entry, so careful planning is required to make sure any debris falls into the ocean or other remote areas. Basically, away from all people.

‘Most of the Earth is covered in water, and space scientists are well versed in applying changes to satellite orbits right up until the point of re-entry, to precisely control the path of a spacecraft,’ Dr. Darren Baskill, astronomy lecturer at the University of Sussex, tells BBC Science Focus.

Baskill explains that the precise adjustments to the satellite orbits will manage the ISS’s final descent and ensure it lands safely away from everyone.

‘What the ISS has provided over the last 23 years is a platform to carry out a wide variety of experiments with a rapid turnover that simply cannot be carried out on the ground,’ Baskill concluded. ‘It has also fostered international cooperation, and inspired many into studying science further.’ 

Jeff Bezos is set to launch a $100 billion replacement for the International Space Station after Elon Musk helps to destroy it.

The ISS has been in operation for the past 32 years but that will soon come to an end when it crashes back to Earth in 2031.

It’s the largest structure we’ve ever sent to space but it is now at the end of its operational life.

Jeff Bezos is set to develop a new space station (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

And it’s Musk’s SpaceX who has won the lucrative $843 million NASA contract to help bring it down.

But the removal of the ISS just means that it is time for a replacement, which is where Bezos comes in.

A new ground-breaking research facility is set to be launched, which will be the first ever commercially-owned and operated space station in low-Earth orbit.

Blue Origin, which is the space company owned by Bezos, has been given the task by NASA to build Orbital Reef.

The 8,200 cubic foot station will be almost as big as the ISS and the billionaire’s firm has been awarded $130 million to develop it.

It will allow the ground-breaking research carried out on the ISS to continue – with some added extras.

In partnership with Sierra Space – as well as, unsurprisingly, Amazon, Boeing, and others – it will offer commercial space activities and act as a space tourism hub.

The station will only be able to support 10 people initially, but modules will be added to support further operations.

These include science modules, with support for microgravity research, development, and manufacturing.

The international space station is coming to the end of its operational life (SCIEPRO/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Blue Origin described the station on its website: “Think spacious modules with large windows to view Earth… while experiencing the thrill of weightlessness in complete comfort.

“Distinct quarters will be designed for personal and business use, and large hatches create a safe and inspiring environment.”

It continued: “We aim to provide a truly extraordinary experience, whether you are in orbit for research, logistics, tourism, or other applications.”

Amazon is set to sort logistics and supply chain management, while Sierra Space will provide Large Integrated Flexible Environment (LIFE) modules, node modules, and a runway-landing Dream Chaser space plane for crew and cargo transportation.

A Boeing Starliner crew spacecraft will also help transport personnel, while the company will supply science modules, space station operations and maintenance.

Orbital Reef is projected to launch in 2027 and will reportedly cost upwards of $100 billion in total.

It’s due to be fully operational by 2030, just before the ISS is brought to its end.

The richest man in the world is getting another healthy paycheque – well, one of his companies is.

Elon Musk‘s SpaceX isn’t just known for building rockets and trying to get us from New York to London in 30 minutes. It’s also in the demolition business.

The International Space Station was built all the way back in 1998 in a joint venture between NASA (America), Roscosmos (Russia), ESA (Europe), JAXA (Japan), and CSA (Canada). Unfortunately, it’s looking a bit tired while circling up there in the cosmos, with NASA already penciling in its eventual destruction.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX has been awarded the lucrative contract (Brandon Bell / Staff / Getty)

The ISS hovers some 400 km (250 miles) above us and has had a crew since 2000.

Unfortunately, its legacy as holding host to thousands of important space experiments is coming to an end.

Although engineers say the laboratory is structurally sound, other bits aren’t faring as well and would eventually see the ISS fall to Earth of its own accord. The last thing you want is a 430-ton space station crashing in your neighborhood.

NASA has awarded SpaceX the lucrative $843 million contract to destroy the ISS, with plans to build a massive ‘tug boat’ that’s able to pull the ISS toward the Pacific Ocean.

For those hoping it’ll become some environment-saving underwater reef, don’t expect to find much left because NASA has said the ISS will ‘destructively break up.’

Still, some elements are expected to survive the immense heat of re-entry.

Ken Bowersox, NASA’s associate administrator for Space Operations Mission Directorate, explains: “The orbital laboratory remains a blueprint for science, exploration, and partnerships in space for the benefit of all.”

While SpaceX will build the deorbit craft, NASA will then take over and operate the demolition mission. Sorry Elon, you won’t be able to fire a giant laser at it.

The date to mark in your diary is some time around 2030, with NASA saying it’s putting its efforts into ‘commercially owned space destinations closer to home’.

The end is nigh for the ISS (Getty Images / Handout / Getty)

Most countries have agreed to support the ISS until 2030, while Russia has vowed to carry on until 2028.

As for what’s next, private companies including SpaceX, Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, Axiom, and Vast are all looking into commercial space stations that could launch as early as 2025.

Bowersox continued: “Selecting a US De-orbit Vehicle for the International Space Station (ISS) will help NASA and its international partners ensure a safe and responsible transition in low Earth orbit at the end of station operations. This decision also supports NASA’s plans for future commercial destinations and allows for the continued use of space near Earth.”

In terms of the ISS’ final resting place, it’s being aimed at the remote Point Nemo in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Being some 2,500 km from the nearest piece of land, it’s unlikely to become a tourist hot pot. 

Elon Musk and SpaceX have promised support for areas affected by fires in Los Angeles in the last day, with Starlink providing service that would prove critical for evacuation and emergency efforts.

Mandatory evacuation orders of over 130,000 individuals due to wildfires has seen Los Angeles thrown into chaos over the past day. As reported by Sky News, estimates from LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone indicate that around 1,000 homes and business have been burned so far in the Palisades fire alone, with more destroyed in the smaller separate outbreaks.

Estimated losses from the natural disaster could go beyond $10,000,000,000 according to analysts from JP Morgan, but one of the most significant losses currently in the wildfires comes from the near-complete removal of signal.

This not only makes reporting on the current situation difficult but it also adds unnecessary challenges to the evacuation effort where getting as many individuals to safety as possible is the primary concern as the disaster continues.

Thankfully Elon Musk and SpaceX have pledged to provide “free Starlink terminals to affected areas in LA tomorrow morning [January 9],” following a statement on social media platform X.

Starlink has already been provided to TV crews – including Fox local news which explained that their service was available only because of Starlink, as all cell service was unavailable in the area.

The difference between Starlink and traditional telecommunications coverage is that the former is operated through satellite connection, and thus remains unaffected by any disruption on the ground. This has allowed it to provide service far beyond the realms of traditional connection, and in situations like this it is incredibly useful.

Replies to Musk’s post have praised the SpaceX subsidiary, declaring: “Every time there’s a disaster and the world’s people need internet, Elon comes to the rescue.”