After 22 years of continuous human habitation, NASA is preparing to retire the International Space Station (ISS) in 2031, marking a shift towards commercial space stations. The move is driven by the need for a more efficient and cost-effective approach to maintaining human presence in space.
NASA's decision to decommission the ISS is part of a broader strategy to transition to commercial space stations. The agency believes that this shift will benefit both national security and scientific research.
NASA Plans to Decommission ISS, Paving the Way for Commercial Space Stations
"Constant maintenance and spacewalks are required on the space station," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. "Without commercial stations ready, we could technically keep the ISS running, but the plan was to de-orbit it in 2031."
The ISS will be de-orbited into the Earth's atmosphere, with most of it burning up upon re-entry. However, some pieces will survive and will be carefully guided into a graveyard in the southern Pacific Ocean.
NASA Plans to Decommission ISS, Paving the Way for Commercial Space Stations
NASA is partnering with commercial companies from the U.S. and around the world to develop and operate new space stations. One such company is Voyager Space, which plans to launch the Starlab into a lower orbit.
"Starlab is more efficient and cost-effective than the current ISS," said Jeffrey Manber, President of International and Space Stations at Voyager Space. "As a commercial venture, we can avoid the political constraints of government-operated stations."
NASA Plans to Decommission ISS, Paving the Way for Commercial Space Stations
Like the ISS, Voyager's Starlab will be an international base, with partners from Europe, Japan, Canada, and the U.S. "We're excited to create a truly international station," said Manber.
NASA believes that commercial space stations will enhance national security by reducing reliance on Russia for access to space. "We've seen a separation between the free world and Russia since the invasion of Ukraine," said Nelson. "However, the cooperation on the ISS remains strong."
NASA Plans to Decommission ISS, Paving the Way for Commercial Space Stations
Shifting away from government control in space is also expected to benefit life on Earth. "From orbit, you don't see religious, racial, or political divisions," said Nelson. "You see our planet as our home, which unifies us."
While the ISS will be decommissioned in 2031, other countries, such as China, Russia, and India, are developing their own space stations. NASA's transition to commercial space stations is part of a global shift towards a more decentralized and sustainable approach to human habitation in space.
