The International Space Station (ISS) is currently a problematic object in orbit. It suffers from cracks, coolant and air leaks and is only getting older, as it is already 25 years old. This makes the ISS a dangerous place for astronauts to stay.
NASA has decided to lower the ISS “safely and under control” into the Earth’s atmosphere in 2031, where part of it will burn up, with the aim of sinking the debris into the Pacific Ocean. Some experts are beginning to wonder how safe this deadly dive will be, as it could ultimately pollute Earth’s air and water.
The ISS’s controlled diving zone is in the South Pacific, where there are no human settlements. This area is further from land than any other point on Earth and is often referred to as the largest spacecraft graveyard in the world.
However, the planned end of the ISS’s lifespan has scientists concerned. Some researchers believe that debris from the station could seriously pollute the water and air if it descends through the atmosphere and falls into the ocean.
NASA announced that it has selected SpaceX to develop a spacecraft that will help clear the International Space Station. The contract is worth almost $850 million. NASA believes this is the best option for a controlled and safe removal of the orbital station.
Leonard Schulz of the Technical University of Braunschweig in Germany says that given the mass of the ISS (450 tons), Earth’s atmosphere could become polluted with enormous amounts of harmful substances if the station burns up due to the intense heat from friction with the air.
Luciano Anselmo of the Institute of Information Sciences and Technology in Pisa, Italy, believes there is also some risk to ocean water, as it could be contaminated by debris from the ISS.
But he says that even if the entire mass of the ISS were to fall into the ocean, it would be nothing compared to the mass of all the ships and cargo sunk in recent decades, not to mention other debris that hit it pollutes the water environment.
Anselmo believes that the biggest threat from the ISS descent concerns the Earth’s upper atmosphere, but it is difficult to estimate the negative consequences at this time.
But representatives of organizations that protect the aquatic environment believe that space debris from the ISS crash could pose a major threat to the waters of the Pacific Ocean.
Many experts point out that there is still no international legal framework that could control the descent of non-functioning spacecraft to Earth.
Darren McKnight of LeoLabs, which monitors space activities to identify threats to the safety of spacecraft, says many experts are more concerned about the water environment than the space environment. But if spacecraft are not brought back under control, it could be a major disaster.
If no one pays to keep the ISS in orbit, it will be unable to maneuver and will be easily hit by space debris. Then the station could just fall somewhere, says McKnight.
According to McKnight, it would be possible to dismantle the ISS in orbit and float it in pieces into the ocean. Or it can be sent to a higher orbit. But both options are very expensive.
