Will the International Space Station's 2031 death dive cause pollution problems?

[Admin]

The International Space Station will be steered to a controlled destruction in Earth's atmosphere in 2031, if all goes to plan. Should we be worried about the pollution this death dive will cause?

Will the International Space Station's 2031 death dive cause pollution problems? : Read more

 

[steve_foston]

I think deorbiting the ISS to Earth is the wrong strategy, instead its should either be placed at the L2 point or moved to the surface of the moon. Apart from the pollution it will cause it is an important historic artefact and should remain in place for future generations to study

 

[psburdett]

I think deorbiting the ISS to Earth is the wrong strategy, instead its should either be placed at the L2 point or moved to the surface of the moon. Apart from the pollution it will cause it is an important historic artefact and s

I think deorbiting the ISS to Earth is the wrong strategy, instead its should either be placed at the L2 point or moved to the surface of the moon. Apart from the pollution it will cause it is an important historic artefact and should remain in place for future generations to study

Steve, After the HUGE cost of sending all that weight into space, agree that there may be some future use of all that metal and even reusing solar panels. The relative cost of storing the ISS in a "safe place" is small. With an option for future use/repair/parting out for other projects.

 

[billslugg]

It took 9656 m/s delta V to get the 400 tons of ISS where it is. It would take 20 m/s slowing down to re-enter Earth's atmosphere. It would take another 3912 m/s to get it to geostationary orbit. It is a matter of extreme cost to boost it much higher.