NASA Plans To De-Orbit ISS In 2016

NewbieV writes "The international space station is by far the largest spacecraft ever built by earthlings. Circling the Earth every 90 minutes, it often passes over North America and is visible from the ground when night has fallen but the station, up high, is still bathed in sunlight. After more than a decade of construction, it is nearing completion and finally has a full crew of six astronauts. The last components should be installed by the end of next year. And then? 'In the first quarter of 2016, we'll prep and de-orbit the spacecraft,' says NASA's space station program manager, Michael T. Suffredini."

Comments

Unfortunately, it will never happen.

[GargamelSpaceman]

It will stay there for a decade or two longer because those sucking the tit will find a way to keep the milk coming.

Stop...

[anonieuweling]

Stop the wars in Iraq, Pipelinistan ehrm...Afghanistan, etc, pull the USAsians back and the ISS can stay afloat a nice number of extra years.

Re:It'll never happen

[berend botje]

You make it sound like the USA doesn't have its own agenda and ample proof it doesn't care about the welfare of anyone else. Don't start about recognizing laws when you unlawfully invaded a sovereign country and executed their democratically elected head of state.

That said, I'm all for deorbiting the ISS and using the budget for real science. Or perhaps pay the Russians to build fifty new MIR spacecraft and have change to spare.