IFLSCIENCE by Dr. Alfredo Carpineti
Between a fiery end and an uncharted future, we know what we would pick.
For over a quarter of a century, there has not been a moment when all humans were together on planet Earth, and that’s thanks to the International Space Station (ISS), traveling over 400 kilometers above Earth. This spacelab has been a symbol of cooperation, a place for advanced scientific investigations, and a home for long-duration forays into space. In five years, it will come crashing through the atmosphere in a controlled deorbit as it comes to an end. If we could save it, should we? Two lawmakers think that NASA should at the very least consider it.
The NASA Reauthorization Act of 2026 was unanimously approved by the House Science Committee on February 4, after dozens of amendments were added. The act is not a budget (which was approved separately), but it sets the priorities, goals, and funding targets for the space agency. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives to be voted on before moving to the Senate, and eventually, if approved, signed into law by the President.
There were 40 different amendments attached to this bill, including strengthening the Deep Space Network to support NASA centers, including the Goddard Space Flight Center. Just a few months ago, a Space.com investigation revealed that some of the Trump administration's proposed 2026 budget cuts to Goddard may have already been implemented prematurely, and possibly illegally, during last year's government shutdown.
However, the amendment we are interested in specifically here is this: Representative George Whitesides (D-Calif.), with the co-sponsorship from Rep. Nick Begich (R-Alaska), submitted Amendment 36 that requires NASA to investigate if it's possible to not crash the ISS into the ocean when it comes to an end, as scheduled in 2031, but whether it could be moved and stored in a higher and safer "orbital harbour".
Why And How Will The ISS End?
The ISS is old. It has been maintained and upgraded over its 27 years, but it is showing its age. The Russian section, in particular, has dealt with cracks and leaks. It would need major upgrades to continue operations, and those would be costly. NASA is, for these reasons, looking at private enterprise, such as the Axiom Station, to continue its operation in low-Earth orbit. The ISS mission has been extended through 2030, but the plan is that it will be retired the following year.
More:
https://www.iflscience.com/what-if-we-dont-crash-the-iss-back-down-and-turn-it-into-a-space-museum-instead-82515
