NASA plans to spend about $1 billion on the SpaceX spacecraft that will launch the ISS into orbit in 2030: part of the station will burn up in the atmosphere, while its remains will sink into the ocean. However, the ISS, which weighs 430 tons, contains materials worth approximately 1.5 billion dollars. Vialle thinks this approach is wasteful.
He proposes spending $300 million to create an orbital processing complex. This facility would be able to dismantle and recycle ISS and other space waste, creating a “circular economy” and reducing the cost of future missions.
Vialle argues that repurposing orbital resources would strengthen the resilience of U.S. space infrastructure and reduce dependence on launches from Earth. He also calls on Congress to consider turning the ISS into a private, autonomous manufacturing center. According to him, investments in new technologies will provide long-term economic and strategic benefits.
Source: Ferra
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