NASA has handed over a whopping $843 million to SpaceX to develop a spacecraft that will intentionally destroy the International Space Station in 2030, a move that has left many wondering if the agency is more concerned with saving face than saving the station.

The ISS, a symbol of humanity’s greatest achievements in space exploration, is being quietly killed off as new, commercially owned space stations begin to emerge. And with it, the very notion of international cooperation in space is being sacrificed on the altar of corporate greed.

But what exactly does NASA have planned for this so-called “U.S. Deorbit Vehicle”? The truth is, very little is known about the craft, except that it will be a souped-up version of SpaceX’s Dragon capsule, designed to ensure the station’s destructive re-entry into the atmosphere. And with NASA taking ownership of the vehicle, it’s clear that the agency is willing to put its own interests above those of the international community.

The real question is, what’s the real reason behind this sudden need to destroy the ISS? Is it because the station has become too expensive to maintain, or is it because NASA is simply tired of being overshadowed by the likes of SpaceX and its billionaire founder, Elon Musk? The truth is, the ISS was always meant to be a symbol of international cooperation, but now it seems like it’s just a pawn in a much larger game of corporate power struggles.

And what about the safety concerns? Will the destruction of the ISS pose a threat to populated areas? Or will NASA simply brush off any potential risks and claim that the destruction of the station is a necessary evil? The truth is, no one really knows what’s going to happen, and that’s exactly what’s so scary.

The launch contract for the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle will be announced separately, but one thing is clear: NASA is willing to do whatever it takes to make sure the ISS is destroyed, no matter the cost to the international community or the very notion of space exploration itself.

TechCrunch has contacted NASA for more details, but the agency has remained tight-lipped about the true nature of this deal. But one thing is certain: the destruction of the ISS is a wake-up call for the world, and it’s time for us to take a closer look at the real motives behind this decision.