NASA statement – Crash on Earth in 2031 will end in Pacific Ocean
The International Space Station (ISS) means a lot to space travelers. It can also be called the second home of scientists in space. But very soon his life is going to end. The US space agency NASA is preparing to crash it from Earth. After retiring at the end of 2030, it will be dropped in the Pacific Ocean in January 2031.
What is International Space Station?
The ISS is a space lab the size of a football field, which revolves around the Earth at an altitude of 420 km. Its weight is 450 tons. It was launched in November 1998. The projects include the US, Russia, Japan, Canada, the UK, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Norway, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, France, Denmark and Belgium. Brazil withdrew from the program in 2007.
The ISS has all the facilities for astronauts. 6 to 8 people can stay here for 6 months. Large spacecraft flying from Earth are landed on it. So far, more than 200 astronauts from 19 countries have visited the ISS.
Why is the retirement of ISS happening?
In September last year, scientists noticed small cracks in the ISS. After this it was said that this lab is now a guest of only a few years. There are some disadvantages in this, which are very difficult to repair.
The ISS was built to work for 15 years anyway. But in the investigation of NASA, it was found that the lab can work for some more time. NASA says that before crashing the ISS, all its material will be transferred to the rest of the labs on Earth or in space. The work will cost $1.3 billion.
Where will the ISS be crashed?
According to NASA, the ISS will be crashed in the area of the South Pacific Ocean. The name of this place is Point Nemo. It is about 2,700 km from the ground. This place has been selected to dispose of old space stations, satellites and other waste of special space globally.
There is a ban on the movement of any ship around Point Nemo. There is no place for humans to live here. About 300 types of space waste have been dumped here since 1971. This includes mostly American and Russian waste. By doing this, humans are increasing the problem of pollution here.
NASA will share experience with the private sector
Phil McAllister, director of commercial space at NASA Headquarters, says that whatever the agency has learned from the ISS over the years will be shared with private sector space companies. The private sector will be supported to build a safe, reliable and affordable space station.
