NASA announced on Wednesday that it has selected SpaceX to build a vehicle, dubbed the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle, tasked with safely deorbiting the International Space Station (ISS) by around 2030. This responsibility was originally planned for Russian thrusters. The agreement, valued at $843 million, aims to ensure a controlled retirement of the ISS, minimizing risks to populated areas on Earth. SpaceX will develop the vehicle, with NASA taking ownership and overseeing its operation. The ISS, a collaborative effort led primarily by the United States and Russia over its 24-year tenure, faces retirement due to aging components, prompting NASA and its…