International Space Station to crash down to Earth in 2031, Nasa says
- The ISS will retire at the end of 2030 before landing at Point Nemo in the Pacific Ocean the next year
- After three decades, the private sector will take over operations in future space travel and Nasa will continue to support the transition
Nasa plans to retire the International Space Station at the end of 2030 and crash it into the Pacific Ocean in an area called Point Nemo, according to a Nasa press release.
After three decades, the private sector will be taking over operations in future space travel and Nasa will continue to support the transition.
“The private sector is technically and financially capable of developing and operating commercial low-Earth orbit destinations, with Nasa’s assistance.
“We look forward to sharing our lessons learned and operations experience with the private sector to help them develop safe, reliable, and cost-effective destinations in space,” Phil McAlister, director of commercial space at Nasa Headquarters, said in the release.
The extension of operations at the ISS until 2030 was backed by the Biden administration and the station is “busier than ever” conducting experiments for government agencies and advancing technologies to send the first woman and first person of colour to the Moon, and the first humans to Mars.
“The International Space Station is entering its third and most productive decade as a groundbreaking scientific platform in microgravity,” Robyn Gatens, director of the International Space Station at Nasa Headquarters, said in the release.
The ISS first launched in November 1998 and has orbited the Earth over 100,000 times. In October 2026, the spacecraft will begin its journey back towards Earth and crash at Point Nemo in January 2031, according to the transition report attached to the release.
A goal outlined in the transition report is to engage a diverse group of students to create a future diverse space workforce.
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“Today’s youth are tomorrow’s scientists, engineers, and researchers,” Nasa said.
“It is thus crucial to our nation and Nasa’s efforts to maintain the interest and curiosity of today’s students so they continue to be inspired by and participate in the wide scope of space exploration roles.”
