| |
EI2GYB > ASTRO 19.10.25 15:02z 55 Lines 5629 Bytes #130 (0) @ WW
BID : 46722_EI2GYB
Subj: Farewell to the International Space Station
Path: SR1BSZ<EA2RCF<I0OJJ<IR0AAB<VK2RZ<GB7CIP<EI2GYB
Sent: 251019/1404Z 46722@EI2GYB.DGL.IRL.EURO LinBPQ6.0.25
#####
_ _ _ _ #### _\_
/ \ ___| |_ _ __ ___ | \ | | _____ _____ ##=-[.].]
/ _ \ / __| __| '__/ _ \ | \| |/ _ \ \ /\ / / __| #( _\
/ ___ \\__ \ |_| | | (_) | | |\ | __/\ V V /\__ \ # \__|
/_/ \_\___/\__|_| \___/ |_| \_|\___| \_/\_/ |___/ \___/
.' `.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Farewell to the International Space Station - NASA confirms its retirement in 2030 and the beginning of the commercial space station era
Since the dawn of humanity, the night sky has been one of the wonders of the universe that has always amazed mankind. From time to time, if we pay attention, a point of light silently crosses this stellar vault. It is the largest man-made object ever put into orbit: the International Space Station (ISS).
Goodbye to the ISS
All good things must come to an end. Like many other human achievements, the International Space Station mission is coming to an end. It will soon be retired with all the honors of a Viking funeral, much like what we hope will happen with the Voyager 1 spacecraft. NASA and its international partners have officially announced that the ISS will be decommissioned. This monumental international project, involving no less than 15 countries, will be dismantled in early 2031. The retirement will begin in 2030.
However, this does not mean the end of human presence in low Earth orbit. On the contrary, it means a strategic transition to another type of infrastructure. For now, NASA is moving from being the owner and operator to becoming just another customer. In recent decades, private companies have emerged that are capable of creating innovative inter-space technology that is also much more cost-effective to maintain. NASA now contracts external companies to do such unique things as installing Wi-Fi networks on the moon itself.
NASA's International Space Station
The original concept for the ISS, originally known as "Space Station Freedom," was approved during Ronald Reagan's presidency in 1984. It was not until 1998 that it was launched into orbit and assembly began.
Years later, on November 2, 2000, the first expedition of astronauts arrived. This marked the beginning of the longest continuous human presence in outer space. The International Space Station was designed to last an average of 15 years. Initially, it was expected to be retired in the mid-2010s. But when that time came, it was realized that its robust design and constant maintenance meant that it could far exceed those expectations. Thus, the NASA postponed its retirement until 2030.
The ISS has been a global home for crews from more than 20 different countries, who have worked on board throughout its lifetime. In total, more than 270 people have been able to live on this orbital spacecraft.
The ISS is a feat of engineering. Although it may look small in photos, it is the size of a football field if you measure its solar panels from end to end. In total, it weighs 430,000 kilograms and moves at an incredible speed of 28,000 km/h. Thanks to this speed, astronauts on board can see 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets every 24 Earth hours (the ideal plan for any romantic person).
In addition to being a meeting point for astronauts from all over the world, it has been humanity's most advanced scientific laboratory: it is estimated to have hosted more than 4,000 different experiments, ranging from protein crystallization to tissue growth in microgravity. However, this comes at an astronomical price.
The construction of the International Space Station alone is estimated to have cost between US$100 billion and US$150 billion. This makes it the most expensive object ever built in modern history. In addition, it costs NASA between US$3 billion and US$4 billion to maintain each year. Unfortunately, this monumental expense is the main reason for seeking a more affordable business model in the future.
Return to Earth
Although the astronauts are leaving the international space station, they will not abandon it, allowing it to avoid the atmosphere. Due to its enormous size, it is not possible to let it fall to Earth uncontrolled. Nor has dismantling the enormous structure piece by piece been considered. Instead, a controlled and assisted re-entry into the atmosphere will be carried out. Although it is estimated that most of the spacecraft will burn up upon entering the atmosphere, the remains that do not completely disintegrate will fall at Point Nemo. This is an uninhabited spot in the South Pacific Ocean, at the most remote point on our planet Earth.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
================================================================================
= ____ __ ____ ___ _ _ ____ ____ ____ ____ =
= ( __)( )(___ \ / __)( \/ )( _ \ ( _ \( _ \/ ___) =
= ) _) )( / __/( (_ \ ) / ) _ ( ) _ ( ) _ (\___ \ =
= (____)(__)(____) \___/(__/ (____/ (____/(____/(____/ =
= Serving The Irish Packet Radio Network Since 2006 =
= Packet: EI2GYB@EI2GYB.DGL.IRL.EURO / EI2GYB@WINLINK.ORG =
= Email/PayPal: EI2GYB@GMAIL.COM =
================================================================================
Read previous mail | Read next mail
| |