NASA wants ‘space tug’ to bring International Space Station safely down

NASA is looking to develop a space tug that will safely deorbit the International Space Station come 2030. 

In the White House’s 2024 federal budget request, the administration requested $27.2 billion in discretionary budget authority for the fiscal year.

That sum includes $180 million; it is initial funding for a space tug that the administration said would “reduce reliance on Russia and help prepare for a new era of U.S.-built commercial space stations.”

“The International Space Station will need to be safely deorbited at the end of its operational life as the United States transitions to lower-cost commercial space stations,” it said. “Rather than relying on Russian systems that may not be able to accomplish this task, the Budget provides $180 million to initiate development of a new space tug that may also be useful for other space transportation missions.”

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The International Space Station photographed by Expedition 56 crew members from a Soyuz spacecraft after undocking Oct. 4, 2018. (NASA)

In a Monday press conference, NASA’s human spaceflight chief Kathy Lueders said the agency is “hoping to get a better price than that” following a request for proposals, adding that an estimate they had was “a little short of about $1 billion.” 

The current plan for bringing the orbital laboratory down relies upon engine burns by robotic Progress cargo vehicles, which are provided by Russia, according to Space.com.

Commercial Crew Program Manager Kathy Lueders speaks during a NASA press conference at the Kennedy Space Center on Sept. 16, 2014 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. NASA announced the return of human spaceflight launches to the United States.  (Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images)

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This long-duration photograph shows the Earth 259 miles below a soaring International Space Station. In the foreground, is the Soyuz MS-21 crew ship docked to the Prichal docking module which is itself attached to the Nauka multipurpose laboratory module, Sept. 19, 2022. (NASA Johnson)

NASA said that the budget would also support a future in low-Earth orbit, including for commercial partners. It noted that the budget invests $39 million into better understanding the orbital debris environment and exploring approaches to ensure safe access to space.

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“President Biden’s budget will help us explore new cosmic shores, continue to make strides in traveling to and working in space and on the Moon, increase the speed and safety of air travel with cutting-edge technologies, and help protect our planet and improve lives here on Earth,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.