NASA has contracted SpaceX to build a vehicle that will guide the International Space Station into a controlled crash landing in the Pacific Ocean around 2030, ending over three decades of continuous human presence in orbit. Ocean conservation groups are raising concerns about debris and environmental impact, though NASA and space agencies argue a controlled deorbit into designated zones is safer than letting the 420-ton station fall uncontrolled. The plan reflects the end of the ISS's operational lifespan and represents the largest human-made object ever deliberately brought down from orbit. Context: Russia and other ISS partners will need to transition to alternative space stations or commercial alternatives once the program ends.