SpaceX CEO Elon Musk shared “serious concerns” over the long-term safety of the International Space Station (ISS), urging to de-orbit it within two years.
“There are potentially serious concerns about the long-term safety of the [ISS]. Some parts of it are simply getting too old and obviously that risk grows over time,” Musk posted on X early on Friday morning. “Even though SpaceX earns billions of dollars from transporting astronauts & cargo to the ISS, I nonetheless would like to go on record recommending that it be de-orbited within 2 years.”
There are potentially serious concerns about the long-term safety of the @Space_Station. Some parts of it are simply getting too old and obviously that risk grows over time.
undefined Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 13, 2025
Even though @SpaceX earns billions of dollars from transporting astronauts & cargo to the ISS, I… https://t.co/TcyUwcwHfE
The author of the original post, Casey Handmer, who worked at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), claims that there are more structural problems with the ISS than is being disclosed.
The news came just hours after NASA postponed the Axiom Mission 4 to the ISS because of a pressure leak in one of the station's Russian-built segments. It was set to be the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station.
The first leaks were detected in 2019 and traced to a tunnel in the Russian Zvezda module, although they were essentially under control.
“As part of an ongoing investigation, NASA is working with Roscosmos to understand a new pressure signature, after the recent post-repair effort in the aft most segment of the International Space Station’s Zvezda service module,” NASA stated.
However, later in November 2024, NASA warned that the leak could now lead to a “catastrophic failure” and put its commitment to operate the ISS through 2030 at risk. Still, NASA and Roscosmos have continuously disagreed over the cause and severity of the leak. According to Bob Cabana, a former NASA astronaut, Russian engineers believe the cracks are likely caused by “high cyclic fatigue” from micro-vibrations. In turn, NASA cites a variety of potential factors, including pressure and mechanical stress, residual stress, material properties of the module, and environmental exposure.
Earlier this year, Musk already called for ISS to be deorbited “as soon as possible.”
It is time to begin preparations for deorbiting the @Space_Station.
undefined Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 20, 2025
It has served its purpose. There is very little incremental utility.
Let’s go to Mars.
NASA, in the meantime, has released The International Space Station Transition Plan, which details that it plans “to fully use and safely operate the space station through 2030” as it moves to “seamlessly transition to commercially owned and operated platforms in low Earth orbit.”
The goal will be to save small parts of the station for historical preservation and return them to Earth, since its structure does not allow for safe disconnection and return of large modules.
The United States, Japan, Canada, and the participating countries of ESA have committed to operating the station through 2030.
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