Elon Musk demands the end of the ISS by 2027: towards the end of a space era?
On X, his social network, Elon Musk said: “It's time to start the preparations to descend the @Space_Station”. According to him, the station fulfilled its mission and “Its marginal utility is very low”. The billionaire, at the head of Doge which brings a nightmare to life to civil servantsspecifies that he recommends an evidence “In two years”.
Elon Musk demands the end of the ISS for 2027
His request arrives then that in 2024, SpaceX obtained a contract of nearly $ 1 billion to carry out the expected desorbit for 2030. The plan requires a vehicle for this purpose to be ready by 2029. If Donald Trump Accepts Elon Musk's request, the schedule will then be revised.
This is a delicate context for NASA in the face of budgetary restrictions and Elon Musk who interferes in his plans by estimating that lunar missions are a loss of temps.
Posts are also deleted and it is possible that Jared Isaacman, Customer of SpaceX, takes the head of the American space agency. The questioning of a flagship program like the ISS may add an additional layer to current difficulties.
The international partners of NASA maintain their commitment until 2030, or even beyond. Russia undertakes in particular until 2028. At the microphone of The registera spokesperson for the European Space Agency (ESA) declares that “The International Space Station is a project involving various international partners. All decisions concerning the ISS are therefore discussed collectively with all the space agencies concerned.”
The advance of the ISS could have large -scale commercial impacts. Several private companies are developing stations in low orbit but do not provide for an autonomous station before 2028. Only SpaceX could overcome this lack with starship vessels to reproduce functionality of the ISS.
Currently, the ISS runs at full speed with a permanent crew of at least seven people, with variations during crew rotations made by the Soyuz (three people) and Crew Dragon (four people) vessels. This station strategy allows you to carry out research while ensuring maintenance. The abandonment in 2027 of the program would be a waste of resources.
But then why such a requirement from Elon Musk? His ambition to reach Mars. If SpaceX has lucrative contracts to supply the ISS in crew and freight, the advanced interruption would make it possible to release resources to finance a inhabited Martian mission.
But as the ESA points out, the fate of the ISS depends on an agreement between all international partners and requests the approval of US legislators.
