NASA plans to decommission the International Space Station (ISS) in the early 2030s and has already started looking at plans and exploring options for getting rid of it. However, the project’s enormous cost is something NASA hadn’t anticipated.
According to reports, the estimated cost of safely disposing of the aging space station will be at least $1 billion. The ISS has been continuously hosting astronauts for 23 years, and signs of wear and tear, including cracks and leaks, have become apparent. In essence, it is nearing a point where it will not be safe to host astronauts.
NASA aims to safely deorbit the ISS towards Earth to ensure it harmlessly burns up when it enters the atmosphere. NASA is now looking for ways to do that while ensuring minimal environmental damage and no damage to property and life.
There are two potential options for the deorbit: an uncontrollable descent or a more carefully orchestrated descent using a special spacecraft. The former poses a risk of large debris falling on populated areas. At the same time, the latter requires a custom-built vehicle powerful enough to deorbit the ISS and accompany it during descent.
NASA’s estimated cost for the decommissioning plan will be at least $1 billion, which may be influenced by the agency’s decision not to use Russian vehicles. The ISS has historically relied on Russian spacecraft. However, the current geopolitical situation complicates the decommissioning process.
The end of the ISS marks the conclusion of decades of international cooperation in space, symbolizing unity in US-Russia relations. Decommissioning the ISS involves addressing the challenge of minimizing debris that could fall to Earth; a task made more complex by the station’s orbit around the planet every 90 minutes.
Despite the challenges and costs, the decommissioning plan signifies the end of an era for the ISS, which has played a crucial role in scientific research and international collaboration in space exploration.
