Billionaire business tycoon Elon Musk recently suggested that the International Space Station (ISS) should be deorbited sooner rather than later, stating that it has served its purpose and offers little incremental utility. Musk's SpaceX has been selected by NASA to develop a de-orbit vehicle for the ISS, which is scheduled to be safely deorbited after the end of its operational life in 2030.
In a post on social media, Musk recommended de-orbiting the space station even sooner, proposing a timeline of two years from now. However, retired NASA astronaut Leroy Chiao emphasized the importance of the ISS as a valuable research laboratory and testing ground for systems crucial for future Mars missions.
Chiao acknowledged the significance of Mars exploration but highlighted the ISS's role in achieving that goal. Meanwhile, Musk engaged in a public dispute with former ISS Commander Andreas Mogensen over the return of astronauts from the space station, with Musk alleging political reasons for delays in their return.
Musk's claims were met with skepticism by Mogensen, who refuted the accusations and criticized Musk's lack of honesty. Musk retaliated by asserting that SpaceX could have brought the astronauts back earlier but was allegedly prevented from doing so for political reasons.
