My first thought after reading that the ISS (International Space Station) is going to be decommissioned was "whaaaaat?!!!"
I cannot believe it, but it is true.
Images by NASA
The ISS is getting old, and it has an expiration date for 2031. Although later news say it will be by the end of 2030s. The ISS was desing in the 1980s, and launched between 1995-1998 and it is composed of capsules from different five different space agencies: NASA, Roscomos, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), ESA (European Space Agency), and CSA (Canadian Space Agency).
Why are they retiring the ISS?
Last few years astronauts found cracks on the ISS, that are difficult to fix long term. The ISS has 25 years in orbit, and it has some serious problems. Therefore, it cannot serve its purpose of giving the astronauts a safe environment, soon we will have to say good bye to that bright white dot that we can sometimes see on the sky following a straight line.
What are they doing with it?
In 2031, they will bring it down. It cannot continue to stay in orbit because the ISS is continuously falling to Earth; it does not fly they use earth gravitation and thrusters to keep it from falling. It continuously pushed forward so it does not fall.
Unfortunately, if it isn’t supervised or control trajectory, it could fall anywhere. Scientists are planning to deorbit it in a control drop in the Pacific Ocean. It is the only place that is big enough, and uninhabited.
Future Plans
NASA is currently in the process of designing their very own space station, a monumental project that aims to further humanity's exploration of the cosmos. It also has ambitious plans to create in collaboration with partners: ESA, JAXA and CSA a space station near the orbit of the Moon. Lunar Gateway or Gateway is part of the Artemis program, it will be a space station in the lower orbit of the Moon, to help with exploration of deep space.
Meanwhile, China has set its sights on establishing a space station of its own. China has already set the wheels in motion for this extraordinary venture. Tiangong Space Station is a third of the size of the ISS, the first module was launched on 2021 and the last one will be in 2026. Although they have their own space station, China collaborates with different countries in research.
Rusia will begin construction of its own space station in 2027, it will smaller tham the ISS with two or more crew.
In another part of the world, India will launch the first module of the Bharatiya Antariksha Station in 2028, they were going to launched before but they had some delays.
So in the future sky we could see more than one Space Station we may have many to choose from to observe.
Is that something that will worry you? As Space is getting cluttered? Or are you excited to have more things to look at? Leave me your comments in this post or in social media.
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