Canceling the International Space Station could cost NASA a billion dollars Science and health

a International Space Station It has hosted astronauts throughout its 23 years of existence, and is only now beginning to experience structural problems, cracks and leaks. And with this NASA Discusses how best to retire the International Space Station in the early 2030s — which is expected to cost the space agency more than $1 billion.

As highlighted Future GateThere are two options for deorbiting the International Space Station. Engineers could simply cause the station to “fall” uncontrollably toward Earth’s atmosphere, potentially causing the station to explode en route. The second option is to organize a more accurate landing, using a special spacecraft that allows determining the correct direction of the fall of the International Space Station.

In the first case, there is a risk that even with an explosion in space, giant pieces of the space station will reach Earth – including populated areas. Although NASA has a mechanism to reduce the amount of debris that can fall to Earth, choosing the fall option with controlled direction is ideal.

However, to ensure a controlled fall, NASA will have to develop and build a custom vehicle powerful enough to leave orbit and also accompany the station during its descent.

Even if the US agency suddenly asked Russia to help use the country’s advanced vehicles, it would still be a challenge.

For now, the only certainty is that the International Space Station will disappear in the coming years, ending with a shimmering inferno exploding in the sky, marking the bittersweet end to decades of international cooperation and scientific progress.