NASA aims to develop a space tug that safely leaves the orbit of the International Space Station in 2030.
In the White House’s 2024 Federal Budget Request, the administration requested $27.2 billion in fiscal year discretionary budget authority.
That total includes $180 million. It’s the first funding for a space tug that the administration said would “reduce its dependence on Russia and help prepare for a new era of U.S.-built commercial space stations.”
“The International Space Station must be safely deorbited at the end of its operational life as the United States transitions to a low-cost commercial space station,” he said. “Rather than relying on Russian systems that may not be able to accomplish this task, the budget will allow him $180 million to begin developing new space tugs that could also serve other space transportation missions. I will give you a dollar.”
Operating the International Space Station to avoid collisions with satellites
The International Space Station photographed by the Expedition 56 crew of the Soyuz spacecraft after undocking on October 4, 2018. (NASA)
At a news conference Monday, NASA’s manned spaceflight chief Kathy Luders said NASA “hopes to get a better price than that” following the request for proposals, saying they had He added that the estimate was “a little short of about $1 billion.”
Current plans to bring down the orbital lab rely on the firing of engines by robotic progress cargo vehicles. Provided by Russiaaccording to Space.com.
Commercial Crew Program Manager Kathy Luders speaks at a NASA press conference at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Sept. 16, 2014. NASA has announced the resumption of manned spaceflights to the United States. (Photo by Gerald Mora/Getty Images)
NASA’s Artemis I Moon Mission rocket suffered more than expected damage during launch
This long shot shows Earth 259 miles below the soaring International Space Station. In the foreground is the Soyuz MS-21 Crew Vessel docked to the Prischar Docking Module, which is connected to the Nauka Multipurpose Laboratory Module, 19 September 2022. (NASA Johnson)
NASA says the budget will also support a future in low-Earth orbit, including commercial partners. The budget noted that he is investing $39 million to better understand the orbital debris environment and explore approaches to ensure safe access to space.
“President Biden’s budget will allow us to explore new space shores, continue to travel and work in space and the moon, increase the speed and safety of air travel with cutting-edge technology, protect the planet, It helps improve lives, here on Earth,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.
