International Space Station to crash down to Earth in 2031

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The International Space Station (ISS) will remain operational until 2030 before crashing into the Pacific Ocean in early 2031, according to the National Space Agency (NASA).

According to a new report, the ISS will crash into a section of the ocean known as Point Nemo, which is the farthest point from land on the planet and is also known as the spacecraft cemetery.

Many old satellites and other space debris have crashed there, according to NASA, including the Russian space station Mir in 2001.

The International Space Station (ISS), a joint project of five space agencies, has been in orbit since 1998. More than 3,000 research studies have been conducted in its microgravity laboratory.

However, the operating license expires in 2024, and any extension must be agreed upon by all partners, including Russia, which has complained about being hampered by US sanctions on Russia.

According to Nasa, the plan to retire the ISS marks a shift to the commercial sector for activities in low-Earth orbit, or space close to Earth.

“With NASA’s assistance, the private sector is technically and financially capable of developing and operating commercial low-Earth orbit destinations,” said Phil McAlister, director of commercial space at NASA Headquarters.

Nasa hopes to establish a “vibrant, American-led commercial economy in low-Earth orbit.”

According to Nasa, transitioning to the private sector for low-Earth orbit activities will save $1.3 billion (£956 million), money that can now be spent on deep space exploration.