Plans to deorbit the International Space Station (ISS) are going to change. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (POT) issues a statement in which it explains that the planned method was not approved, after carrying out a scientific study that determines the consequences for the spacecraft.
The date is maintained, which would be between the years 2030 and 2032. They explain that of the five space agencies that operate on the ISS (Canadian, Japanese, ESA and Roscosmos; in addition to NASA), four will continue working until 2030, while the Russians leave in 2028.
The fact that the Russians abandon the project early seems to be the determining element for NASA to change the plans, because in principle they were going to use rockets called Roscosmos Progressdeveloped by the Russian space agency.
These were going to deorbit the ISS downwards, so that the atmosphere would disintegrate it and the remains would fall into an uninhabited area of the ocean.
NASA says in its statement that after extensive scientific studies: “these efforts now indicate that a new spacecraft solution would provide more robust capabilities for responsible deorbitation. To begin the development of this new spacecraft, NASA published the request for proposal.”
So, they explain that there will be “a new spacecraft design or a modification of an existing spacecraft which must function on its first flight and have sufficient redundancy and anomaly recovery capability to continue the critical deorbitation process. As with any development effort of this size it will take years to develop, test and certify.”.
What NASA reports is that the idea remains the same, to push the International Space Station down so that the remains fall into the water, but they will no longer do it with Russian propellants but with a new development by the space agencies that remain working until 2030.
What is the proposal that follows the ISS?
One of the most notable proposals is starlab, a commercial space station developed by Airbus and Voyager Space. Starlab would be a modular station that could grow and adapt to the needs of users. The station would be equipped with scientific laboratories, manufacturing facilities and accommodation for astronauts.
Another proposal is Orbital Reef, a commercial space station developed by Blue Origin, Sierra Space and Boeing. Orbital Reef would be located in a low orbit, making it more accessible to astronauts. The station would be equipped with scientific laboratories, manufacturing facilities and accommodation for space tourists.