The International Space Station (ISS) has been home to humans in space for nearly 24 years.
Since the first three astronauts boarded it on Halloween in 2000, the ISS has symbolized international collaboration and scientific achievement.
The End of an Era
However, all good things must come to an end.
NASA announced on Wednesday that it has chosen SpaceX to develop and build a special Deorbit Vehicle to bring the ISS safely back to Earth when its mission ends.
This new vehicle will ensure a safe and responsible conclusion to the space station’s operations.
The ISS’s Lifespan
The ISS has been orbiting Earth since 1998, and by the time it retires in 2030, it will have outlasted its expected lifespan by two years.
While many parts of the station, like solar arrays and communications equipment, can be repaired or replaced, the main structure cannot be practically fixed.
This includes the crewed modules and the truss structures that hold the station together.
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Structural Challenges
The constant docking and undocking of spacecraft and the transition between sunlight and darkness place stress on the ISS’s structures.
Even though these forces were considered in the original design, the station’s primary structure has a finite lifespan.
Signs of Aging
Over the years, the ISS has started showing signs of aging, such as leaks. Despite this, it has functioned remarkably well.
NASA is now preparing for the end of this incredible project, which has seen five space agencies work together to maintain a laboratory orbiting at around 17,500 miles per hour (28,000 kilometers per hour).
SpaceX’s Role
SpaceX’s involvement in building the Deorbit Vehicle, valued at approximately $843 million, marks a significant step.
Although SpaceX will develop and build the vehicle, NASA will manage and own the mission to bring the ISS back to Earth.
What Comes after the International Space Station?
NASA is planning for what will come after the International Space Station (ISS).
The goal is to have a thriving commercial market in low Earth orbit where companies provide space stations, as well as cargo and crew transportation, as services to NASA and other customers.
As NASA hands over operations in low Earth orbit to private companies, it will focus more on human missions to the Moon and Mars.
Right now, NASA uses the ISS for scientific research and testing new technologies.
For over 20 years, the ISS has helped companies grow by serving as a place to develop commercial spacecraft, conduct research, and host private astronaut missions.
NASA is also helping private companies create their own space stations, which are expected to be ready before the ISS is decommissioned to ensure there’s no gap in space services.
Through the Artemis missions to the Moon, NASA is using the lessons learned from the ISS to prepare for future human exploration of Mars.
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How will NASA deorbit the International Space Station?
NASA plans to safely bring the International Space Station (ISS) back to Earth by guiding it to re-enter the atmosphere over a remote area of the ocean. The process involves several steps:
- Gradual Decay: First, they will let the Earth’s atmosphere naturally slow down the ISS, causing it to gradually lose altitude.
- Controlled Descent: Using the station’s existing thrusters, they will carefully lower its altitude even more.
- Final Maneuver: Once the ISS is at the right altitude and all crew members have returned to Earth, NASA will execute a precise re-entry maneuver. This involves a large burn (or firing) of the station’s engines to direct it towards an uninhabited area in the ocean, ensuring that any debris will land safely away from people.
The key goal is to make sure that when the ISS re-enters the atmosphere, it does so in a controlled manner, minimizing any risk to people on the ground.
Will any parts of the space station burn up?
The station, which is the largest structure ever built in space, consists of truss elements, modules, solar panels, and radiators.
Engineers expect the breakup to happen in three stages: first, the solar panels and radiators will separate.
Next, the modules and truss will break apart and finally, the modules will fragment, and the truss will lose its structure.
As the debris falls, most of it will burn up, but some heavier parts may survive re-entry and fall into the ocean.