In January of 2022 NASA announced a planned deorbit of the International Space Station that date is set for January 2031. The international space station has been used as a laboratory for astronauts all over the world for about 20 years. The first model of the International space station, or ISS was sent into space in 1998.
Axiom is coming
Houston-based company Axiom is expected to take the place of the International Space Station after its demise. Private Aerospace companies like Axiom and Spacex have been taking over more and more of NASA’s responsibilities.
“I think that the International space station will probably start to have issues with reliability as it is hard to maintain the station” said Nelson Lee, a Junior.
New Axiom station will be more advanced to handle the demands that the astronauts have. The Station could be used as a docking and refueling station for SpaceX passenger spacecraft.
Fiery Inferno
The remains of the International Space Station will not survive re entry into the earth’s atmosphere NASA has predicted the station will come down in a fiery inferno somewhere in the South Pacific. The Space Station itself is colossal; it is almost the size of a football field and has the same living space as a 9 bedroom house.
“It will be a challenge for NASA to come up with a safe way for the Station to come down” said Alonso Lemelli, a Junior.
Most of the pods will be detached from the station when it comes time for the International space station to come down. These pods will then have to be reattached somehow to the new station.
“I don’t know much about the plans to take down the ISS, but I’m aware of the influx of private companies becoming more involved in aerospace” said Mark Lauch a Science teacher
The rise of private companies taking over more stake in space will decrease the International partnerships between countries involving space projects. The shutdown of the International Space Station could be a major turning point in aerospace exploration.