The End of an Era: International Space Station (ISS) to be Deorbited in 2031
In a few years’ time, the International Space Station (ISS) will come to an end, marking the conclusion of an era that began with its launch in November 2000. NASA plans to deorbit the ISS, with the station burning up in Earth’s atmosphere over a very remote area of the Pacific Ocean. This leaves the question – what’s NASA’s plan, and who will still be in space?
Currently, the only other permanently orbiting space base is China’s Tiangong Space Station, which is expected to last at least 10 years, with plans for expansion. However, once Tiangong reaches the end of its expected lifespan, there will be a gap in continuous human presence in space.
This is where private space companies come in, offering the potential for a smooth transition of human presence in space. Axiom Space, for example, will be sending modules to the ISS to conduct commercial space activities. When the ISS is decommissioned, Axiom Space will detach and continue orbiting with its own station.
In addition, Russia had previously announced plans to leave the ISS after 2024 and start its own station in 2027. However, due to current geopolitical circumstances, these plans may have been altered. The Russian Orbital Service Station (ROSS) is currently scheduled to launch its first module in 2027, with completion expected in 2035.
Looking ahead, the next big project for an international space station is the Lunar Gateway, a space station placed in lunar orbit as a “gateway” to the Moon. This initiative, involving NASA, ESA, JAXA, and CSA, is seen as a crucial player for building and operating bases on the Moon.
As the ISS approaches its end, it is clear that new space stations will be needed in the late 2030s to maintain a continuous human presence in space. With countries and private companies showing interest in creating their own space stations, it seems that humanity will continue to have a presence off-planet for the foreseeable future. Who knows, maybe once the ISS is gone, we will miss it so much that we will start building another one.