A Closer Look At SpaceX's New ISS Deorbit Vehicle

Only a few weeks ago NASA announced its decision to pick SpaceX to provide a spacecraft capable of deorbiting the International Space Station. However, considering both the unique requirements as well as the necessary power to complete such an important task, at the time it wasn’t clear what vehicle design the company would use.

That was until today when we were provided both graphics along with new details about its design. Here I will go more in-depth into this vehicle’s design, what we know so far, its upgrades from a standard Dragon spacecraft, and more.

Credit:

Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:28 - Deorbit Vehicle Design

[hermaeus_jackson]

Just a Dragon with extra tanks and engines strapped on. Very kerbal

[sycodeathman]

Will this technically count as the world's largest space tug design to ever be funded?

[chrisolix]

This vehicle will share features that will be found on the dragon xl as well. The xl will be a cargo version of this craft.

[tonyug]

Anyone else was secretly hoping it'd turn into the 'valeron and city of a thousand planets' station

[kevikiru]

Hey SpaceBucket. Thanks for the way you deliver news. I always know to make time to watch because you will not waste my time, engage in sensationalist speculation or ramble. I wish you all the best and may your channel continue to grow!

[chronablitz]

46 Engines? Wow! That’s 13 more engines than Super Heavy! Who proposes to name the deorbit vehicle to Dragon Heavy?

[ARWest-bpyb]

No doubt SpaceX will have this ready on time and within the budget, unlike some other of NASA contractors.👍👍

[EpicThe]

If this has a heat shield it would be displayed in the air and space museum it's part of exhibit with the International Space Station

[icare]

SAVE ISS! I have the technology to update it!

[morganoverbay]

I'm designing the world's midiumest space tug..

[EveryoneWhoUsesThisTV]

A stripped down, lightweight cargo dragon, with a giant 'trunk' converted into propellant tanks with a ring of draco
Sensible. :)
Just don't drop the ISS on Western Australia this time.

[arthurhamilton]

So the current dragon trunk will be upgraded to a full service module. This is basically an orbital tug. Hopefully, they can find a way to refuel it, to be used in orbit.

[jameswalker]

Would this vehicle make an ideal space tug to push volume to says Luna orbit?

[peterkotara]

I wonder how hard it would be to reposition a docking component to allow 2 de-orbiting devices to be attached. If each device had redundancy built in and was designed to perform the task stand alone, then having 2 could provide far more granular control. I know this would be more expensive, but other than that, what am I missing? (I know there is so much I'm missing). Be kind.

[noahgossett]

Makes you wonder how much more they can reiterate on starship for the foreseeable future. The dragon needs to be upgraded in general added seats and propellant along with its size. Still eagerly waiting on a v2-v3 starship to build the next gen space station so we can really begin our space fairing journey. We should have broadcasted 0g sports on earth by now😂

[tonyug]

I hope theres a further use for the craft - ie not one off --- like maybe easily modifiable to service the 'gateway' - like the ill fated dragon xl that never happenned.

[ThePlecoPal]

If the ISS is so useful then why are they replacing it with almost nothing?

[thomasreese]

Disposing of this much 'useful material' in space seems so wasteful. Those solar panels at minimum could be handed off to something else. Really, the main reason seems to be avoiding unexpected collisions and thus more space junk.

[juliancrooks]

Instead of all those thrusters why not have a modified Merlin engine in the service module

[tonyug]

I'm surprised they didnt seperate it into modules and de-orbit them seperately, anyone know why that rejected -- or just easier to junk in one go.