"US lawmakers have asked NASA to look into storing the International Space Station (ISS) in a higher orbit at the end of its operational life, instead of sending the structure hurtling into the ocean when the time comes. The question came up during the markup of the NASA Reauthorization Act and raises an intriguing possibility. Could the multi-billion-dollar complex be sent to a higher orbit where future generations might find a use for it, rather than destroyed?"
"Whitesides explained that the amendment required NASA to conduct an analysis of the costs and risks of storing the ISS in orbit. It did not mandate relocation, nor did it authorize funding or the execution of any such plan. It is, however, worth pondering as the ISS nears the end of its life. In 2024, SpaceX was awarded the contract to build a vehicle to de-orbit the ISS."
U.S. lawmakers asked NASA to analyze storing the International Space Station in a higher, stable orbit at the end of its operational life rather than de-orbiting it into the ocean. The amendment from Reps. Whitesides (D-CA) and Begich (R-AK), passed by voice vote, required analysis of costs and risks but did not authorize relocation, funding, or change the planned 2030 end of operations. SpaceX was awarded a 2024 contract to build a de-orbit vehicle expected by 2029. Boosting the ISS into a higher orbit is technically possible but would require a vehicle and carries debris and collision risks. NASA estimates the average time between impacts would shrink from 51 years at current altitude to less than four years at 497 miles; complete fragmentation could be catastrophic.
Read at Theregister
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]