Elon Musk's SpaceX is a major partner on the ISS programme, with Nasa contracts to deliver astronauts and cargo to the station

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk recommended hastening the end of the International Space Station on his social media site X, arguing that the orbiting laboratory should be taken out of orbit within two years instead of the current five-year target.

NASA has selected SpaceX to develop the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle, which will be responsible for guiding the ISS to its end of life. While SpaceX will develop the spacecraft, NASA will take ownership and oversee its operation during the deorbit process. The spacecraft will ultimately burn up along with the ISS during re-entry.