Historic structures, like Alexander Graham Bell’s residence in Nova Scotia, are often transformed into museums or national historic sites to safeguard their legacy for future generations.
But how can you preserve a structure the size of a football field that orbits 400 kilometers above Earth?
NASA’s official strategy is to deorbit the International Space Station (ISS) at the end of its operational life, ensuring it undergoes a controlled descent back into Earth’s atmosphere, where it will disintegrate over a remote oceanic area.
However, recent U.S. government actions have proposed a reevaluation of this plan. Members have urged NASA to explore the possibility of maintaining the ISS in low Earth orbit instead of initiating its planned deorbiting process.
Since 2000, the ISS has served as a home for numerous astronauts and cosmonauts from various countries, including the U.S., Russia, Canada, Europe, and Japan. It was constructed incrementally through 36 space shuttle missions and six Russian Proton and Soyuz launches.
As the ISS nears the end of its operational lifespan, NASA announced in January 2022 that the space station will be retired in 2030 and deorbited in 2031.
Under the current scheme, a SpaceX rocket is slated to guide the ISS on a trajectory through the atmosphere, leading to its incineration over a remote section of the Pacific Ocean, akin to the fate of its predecessor, the Russian Space Station MIR.
However, some reservations have been raised regarding this plan. U.S. Rep. George Whitesides, a former NASA chief of staff, presented a proposal to the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee on February 4, advocating for a thorough examination of alternative options before committing the ISS to its fiery demise. The proposal received unanimous initial approval with bipartisan backing.
“The International Space Station is one of the most intricate engineering accomplishments in human history,” Whitesides stated before the committee. “Before we permanently dispose of an asset of this magnitude, should we fully understand whether it’s viable to preserve it in orbit for potential use by future generations?”
Yet, finding a solution is far from straightforward.
The ISS cannot be left unattended for an extended period as it gradually loses altitude due to atmospheric drag, necessitating regular boosts to maintain its orbit. Neglecting such upkeep would result in an uncontrolled reentry akin to Skylab’s fate in 1979.
Proposals to propel the ISS to a higher orbit face challenges such as the need for substantial fuel and uncertainty regarding the station’s structural integrity. NASA’s 2024 report warned that a higher orbit would heighten collision risks with space debris, potentially exacerbating the space debris issue.
Even if sustainably boosted, the ISS demands ongoing maintenance to prevent deterioration that could render the station inoperable or hazardous. Despite NASA’s call for private entities to take over the ISS, no viable proposals were received, indicating the challenges in repurposing the existing infrastructure.
While NASA shifts its focus towards lunar and Martian exploration, China’s operational Tiangong space station and private ventures planning smaller space stations demonstrate ongoing interest in orbiting habitats. Ambitious concepts like giant space hotels and rotating wheel designs also hint at future space developments.
Rep. Whitesides’ bill, though preliminary, signals a potential shift in preserving the ISS as a heritage site. However, the logistical and financial challenges of such an endeavor may ultimately lead to the ISS’s fiery end in Earth’s atmosphere, unless a compelling alternative emerges.