NASA plans to deorbit the ISS sometime around 2030. Building something the size of the ISS in orbit is a huge undertaking and NASA keeps talking about wanting to build new space stations or a moon base, so why not leave the ISS in space and reuse it rather than literally throw the whole thing away?
In: Planetary Science
Compared to any other technological item, the ISS is ancient. It’s already exceeded its originally planned lifespan of 15 years(been in orbit since 1998). It’s tired, leaky, and requiring more cost and effort to maintain. It’s time to start investing in something not held back by its own legacy.
So they have already decided that they aren’t going to continue to maintain it, they cannot just leave it in space. The ISS loses 2km of altitude a month, so leaving it in space means they have to continue to use and maintain it. Reusing it isn’t an option, as that would hamstring whatever they would incorporate it into with old technology and standards. The only responsible way to end its mission is to de-orbit it in a controlled manner.
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