NASA will crash the International Space Station in to Earth’s oceans with help from Elon Musk

The future of the International Space Station will see it crash back through Earth's atmosphere before landing in a remote spot of ocean.

That is the plan, according to NASA, with Elon Musk and his SpaceX integral to the de-orbiting plan that is happening sooner than you might think.

Launched back in 1998, the ISS project was born out of global collaboration, with NASA (the USA), Roscosmos (Russia), ESA (Europe), JAXA (Japan), and CSA (Canada) all working together to make the cosmic dream a reality.

With each space agency sending up parts to assemble in space - the largest space assembly project in human history - it remains the largest space station to ever be created by us mortals back on planet Earth.

Rich history of the ISS - but it has to go

To this day, the ISS is split in to two areas, the Russian Orbital Segment (ROS) put together by Roscosmos, and the US Orbital Segment (USOS), assembled by NASA, JAXA, ESA and CSA.

Circling the Earth more than 15 times a day, its purpose has been to champion scientific research that cannot be done on Earth, as well as act as the perfect location for microgravity experiments.

Despite the rich history, those running the ISS are about to call time on it. And the reason? It's getting old.

The ISS has an operational life that ends in 2030, meaning there's only half a decade or so of science left to be conducted on board.

The ISS orbiting the Earth (Getty Stock Images)

What will happen to the ISS?

Elon Musk's space technology and exploration company, SpaceX, has won the $843,000,000 (£665,000,000) NASA contract to aid with the plan once the lights are turned off onboard the ISS.

Ken Bowersox, associate administrator for Space Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, said: “Selecting a U.S. Deorbit Vehicle for the International Space Station will help NASA and its international partners ensure a safe and responsible transition in low Earth orbit at the end of station operations.

"This decision also supports NASA’s plans for future commercial destinations and allows for the continued use of space near Earth.

“The orbital laboratory remains a blueprint for science, exploration, and partnerships in space for the benefit of all.”

SpaceX will develop the spacecraft used to conduct the de-orbit, while NASA will retain control of operations for the mission itself.

An enhanced SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will push the ISS towards Earth (Keegan Barber/NASA via Getty Images)

What will happen when the ISS de-orbits back to Earth?

NASA plans on letting the ISS slowly get closer to Earth in the 18 months after operations cease on board, Astronomy magazine reports.

At this stage, the SpaceX spacecraft will latch on to the ISS and use its thrusters to propel the space station towards Earth.

A modified version of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, it'll have six times the propellant and four times the thruster power of a standard Dragon.

As the ISS moves through the Earth's atmosphere, the station will largely break in to pieces and burn up.

But the larger modules of the space station will make it through the atmosphere and land in a final splash spot, which NASA has currently yet to publicly confirm the location of.