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.

The International Space Station "has served its purpose" and should be deorbited "as soon as possible," SpaceX chief and close Trump adviser Elon Musk said today (Feb. 20).