Elon Musk Wants to Bring Down the International Space Station ASAP

By Harry Negron, February 25, 2025

In a recent escalation of public discourse, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has called for the expedited decommissioning of the International Space Station (ISS), proposing that it be deorbited "as soon as possible," potentially by 2027. This suggestion comes ahead of the current plan to retire the ISS in 2030. Musk's remarks were made on his social media platform, X, where he stated, "It is time to begin preparations for deorbiting the @Space_Station. It has served its purpose. There is very little incremental utility. Let's go to Mars."

The controversy intensified following a public dispute between Musk and former ISS commander Andreas Mogensen. The disagreement centers on the prolonged stay of NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore aboard the ISS. Originally scheduled for a 10-day mission, the astronauts have remained in space due to technical issues with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft. Musk alleged that their extended mission was politically motivated, a claim Mogensen refuted, leading to a heated exchange on social media.

Musk's proposal to deorbit the ISS earlier than planned has significant implications. The ISS has been a cornerstone of international collaboration in space exploration for over two decades, facilitating numerous scientific advancements. NASA's current timeline aims for decommissioning the station by 2030, with plans to transition to commercially operated space stations in low Earth orbit. Accelerating this timeline could impact ongoing research and the development of commercial replacements.

As the situation develops, the space community awaits further discussions among international partners regarding the future of the ISS and the broader implications for space exploration initiatives.