Nasa has awarded Elon Musk’s SpaceX with the monumental task of deorbiting the International Space Station after 2030.
The $843 million contract, announced by the space agency on Thursday, includes the development of the United States Deorbit Vehicle that will dock with the station and perform a series of manoeuvres to bring it down safely into an ocean.
The station, which has been orbiting the planet for more than two decades, is nearing its end of operational life, with signs of ageing components and systems.
“Nasa announced SpaceX has been selected to develop and deliver the US Deorbit Vehicle that will provide the capability to deorbit the space station and ensure avoidance of risk to populated areas,” Nasa said.
The ISS has served as a beacon of international co-operation since 1998, bringing together five major space agencies, including Nasa, the Japanese, European, Canadian space agencies and Russia’s Roscosmos.
More than 270 astronauts and cosmonauts, including UAE's Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Neyadi, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, and two Saudi astronauts, have served missions aboard the station, carrying out thousands of experiments that have helped the science community on ground.
SpaceX to supply Nasa with the deorbiting vehicle
Nasa had asked companies earlier this year to submit proposals of technologies that could be used to help bring the station back down safely.
Its selection of SpaceX comes as no surprise, as the rocket company has already flown Nasa astronauts to and back from the space station since 2021 and has a $2.89 billion contract to land astronauts on the lunar surface using its Starship technology.
Nasa hires the services of SpaceX to use its Falcon 9 rockets to launch astronauts, but in this contract, the space agency would own the vehicle.
“While the company will develop the deorbit spacecraft, Nasa will take ownership after development and operate it throughout its mission,” the space agency said.
“Along with the space station, it is expected to destructively break up as part of the re-entry process.”
What about Russia?
The US segment is the largest on the ISS, after Russia, with both countries having a politically strained relationship on the ground, but have co-operated well in orbit.
Russia has agreed to work with the US when it is time to retire the station.
However, in the early days of when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, former Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin threatened to drop the station on the US, Europe, China or India because of sanctions placed on the country by the West.
“If you block co-operation with us, who will save the ISS from an uncontrolled deorbit,” he had posted on X, on February 24, 2022.
China, which is quickly emerging as a global space power, completed its station, called the Tianong, in low-Earth orbit.
Once the ISS retires, Nasa will shift its focus on helping to commercialise orbit, with several companies working towards launching commercial space stations.
End of an era
For the majority of its lifespan, the ISS has remained a symbol of international co-operation, rising above geopolitical tensions on Earth.
Thousands of research investigations have taken place aboard the laboratory, including helping to advance medical fields such as human physiology, where studies on muscle atrophy and bone density loss have provided insights into osteoporosis and muscle degeneration.
Space research has also contributed to understanding cardiovascular health, immune system responses and the development of new medical technologies and treatments for conditions such as cancer and infectious diseases.
Missions aboard the station also led to several spin-off technologies, such as advanced water purification systems now used in remote communities on Earth and robotic surgical devices that make minimally invasive surgeries possible.
Materials and technologies developed for the space station are now also being used on the ground to improve solar panels and safety gear for firefighters.
Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
New schools in Dubai
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 1 (Fernandes pen 2') Tottenham Hotspur 6 (Ndombele 4', Son 7' & 37' Kane (30' & pen 79, Aurier 51')
Man of the match Son Heung-min (Tottenham)
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
The%20specs
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Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Stage result
1. Pascal Ackermann (GER) Bora-Hansgrohe, in 3:29.09
2. Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto-Soudal
3. Rudy Barbier (FRA) Israel Start-Up Nation
4. Dylan Groenewegen (NED) Jumbo-Visma
5. Luka Mezgec (SLO) Mitchelton-Scott
6. Alberto Dainese (ITA) Sunweb
7. Jakub Mareczko (ITA) CCC
8. Max Walscheid (GER) NTT
9. José Rojas (ESP) Movistar
10. Andrea Vendrame (ITA) Ag2r La Mondiale, all at same time
The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
PROFILE OF INVYGO
Started: 2018
Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo
Based: Dubai
Sector: Transport
Size: 9 employees
Investment: $1,275,000
Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri
If you go
The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Santiago, via Sao Paolo cost from Dh5,295 with Emirates.
The trip
A five-day trip (not including two days of flight travel) was split between Santiago and in Puerto Varas, with more time spent in the later where excursions were organised by TurisTour.
When to go
The summer months, from December to February are best though there is beauty in each season
Company%20profile
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The%20specs
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Results
5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m; Winner: Faiza, Sandro Paiva (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer).
5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,400m; Winner: Greeley, Connor Beasley, Helal Al Alawi.
6pm: Emirates Fillies Classic Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 1,600m; Winner: Marzaga, Jim Crowley, Ana Mendez.
6.30pm: Emirates Colts Classic Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 1,600m; Winner: Jawaal, Jim Crowley, Majed Al Jahouri.
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m; Winner: AF Ashras, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m; Winner: Somoud, Richard Mullen, Ahmed Al Mehairbi.
THE%20SPECS
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Brief scores:
Manchester City 2
Gundogan 27', De Bruyne 85'
Crystal Palace 3
Schlupp 33', Townsend 35', Milivojevic 51' (pen)
Man of the Match: Andros Townsend (Crystal Palace)
