NASA Plans to Crash International Space Station into Ocean

Image Courtesy of NASA

By Daniel Formella

That’s one small step for man, one giant splash for mankind. At the end of January, a NASA report announced that the International Space Station (ISS) would be intentionally crashed in early 2031 into Point Nemo, the most isolated location in the Pacific Ocean.

The research laboratory in the stars, which currently houses an international crew of seven astronauts from the United States, Germany, and Russia, is well into its third decade since being launched in 1998. But as with any piece of technology, the ISS is reaching the end of its lifespan as NASA looks to pursue other goals. 

In a press release, Director of commercial space at NASA Headquarters Phil McAlister explained NASA’s intentions to shift focus towards deep space exploration, including missions to Mars and leave low-Earth orbit research to commercial enterprises. 

“The private sector is technically and financially capable of developing and operating commercial low-Earth orbit destinations, with NASA’s assistance,” McAlister said. “We look forward to sharing our lessons learned and operations experience with the private sector to help them develop safe, reliable, and cost-effective destinations in space.”

However, not everyone is satisfied with the way the International Space Station is being decommissioned. Rick Tumlinson, the founder and co-founder of several space companies such as Space Fund, opposes the total crashing of the ISS into Point Nemo. In a tweet, the space pioneer challenged NASA’s decision. In a call to “recycle,” some like Mr. Tumlinson believe that parts of the ISS can still “be salvaged” and “reused.” 

Nonetheless, plans will go forward for the International Space Station’s prepared crash. 

According to the NASA report, the station does not have enough power to de-orbit on its own. The propulsion from other spacecraft, potentially from Russian cargo spacecraft, will be used in taking the ISS out of orbit so that it can begin its descent to the Pacific Ocean. The station will be in good company, as the intended area for landing is commonly referred to as a graveyard for spacecraft. It is estimated that around 250 to 300 spacecraft, whose structures mostly burn up upon reentering Earth’s atmosphere, call Point Nemo home. Ironically, the station will be joining the watery grave where many of the Russian Progress spacecraft, which carry supplies to and from the ISS, rest. 

The International Space Station completed its in-space construction in 2011 after launching its first piece in 1998. Traveling at 5 miles per second, 230 humans from 18 different countries have visited the station. In total, the astronauts have conducted 205 spacewalks since the ISS’s first part was sent into space. Serving as a research laboratory, countless experiments ranging from growing plants to sending tweets have been conducted on the station. Perhaps most importantly, the international crew onboard has served as a symbol of global unity and cooperation.

All good things, however, must come to an end. The world will be watching as the beloved space station returns from the heavens back to its home.