Deorbiting Home: NASA to soon start dismantling the ISS in space. Here’s why it will cost them billions

NASA plans to decommission the International Space Station (ISS) in the early 2030s and has already started at looking at plans and exploring options as to how to get rid of it. However, the enormous cost of the project is something that NASA hadn’t anticipated.

The estimated cost of safely disposing of the ageing space station will be at least $1 billion, according to reports. The ISS has been continuously hosting astronauts for 23 years, and signs of wear and tear, including cracks and leaks, have become apparent. In essence, it is nearing a point where it will not be safe for it to host astronauts.

NASA’s objective is to safely deorbit the ISS towards Earth to ensure it harmlessly burns up in when it enters the atmosphere. What NASA is now looking for, are ways to do that, while ensuring that there is minimal environmental damage, as well as no damage to property and life.

There are two potential options for the deorbit: an uncontrollable descent or a more carefully orchestrated descent using a special spacecraft. The former poses a risk of large debris falling on populated areas, while the latter requires a custom-built vehicle powerful enough to deorbit the ISS and accompany it during descent.

NASA’s estimated cost for the decommissioning plan will at least be $1 billion, which may be influenced by the agency’s decision not to use Russian vehicles for the task. The ISS has historically relied on Russian spacecraft. However, the current geopolitical situation complicates the decommissioning process.

The end of the ISS marks the conclusion of decades of international cooperation in space, symbolizing unity in US-Russia relations. Decommissioning the ISS involves addressing the challenge of minimizing debris that could fall to Earth, a task which is made more complex by the station’s orbit around the planet every 90 minutes.

Despite the challenges and costs, the decommissioning plan signifies the end of an era for the ISS, which has played a crucial role in scientific research and international collaboration in space exploration.