NASA Requests a Billion Dollars to De-Orbit the ISS
On March 9th, NASA published its 2024 budget proposal, asking for $27.2 billion for the agency's upcoming year's operations. One essential item in the budget request was a tug to de-orbit the International Space Station. The de-orbiting process was initially planned with maneuvers from the station itself and Progress and Soyuz capsules attached to the station. With the decline in relations with Russia, NASA wants to be prudent and bring the station down on its terms at the end of its mission.
@peterdrake It won't entirely burn up in the atmosphere, chunks will crash into the Pacific Ocean. There are private stations planned, and China has its station in orbit. NASA is shifting focus to the Lunar Gateway.