ISS Prepares To Retire In 2030: How NASA Will Maintain Human Presence In Space

Last Updated:September 26, 2025, 12:38 IST

Because the early 2000s, the International Space Station (ISS) has actually been constantly inhabited with astronauts from the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, Canada and most just recently, India.

Mankind will close an amazing chapter in area history. Because 2000, astronauts have actually lived and worked constantly aboard the International Space Station(ISS), which has actually performed groundbreaking research study and demonstrated how worldwide cooperation can be accomplished in orbit. The station’s journey will end in 2030.

According to a report in NTD, in 2030, the year the ISS turns 30, NASA will deorbit the spaceport station and send it securely into a remote part of the Pacific Ocean.

A Legacy Of Research And Collaboration

The ISS stands as one of the best accomplishments in area history. Considering that the early 2000s, it has actually been constantly inhabited with astronauts from the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, Canada and most just recently, India, who have actually lived and operated in orbit all the time.

The ISS has actually been a centre for clinical research study over the previous 25 years. Researchers have actually performed more than 4,000 experiments. The research studies have actually resulted in countless research study documents that have actually assisted enhance and advance life in the world while getting ready for future area objectives.

What Comes After The ISS

NASA and its worldwide partners are currently getting ready for life after the ISS. Rather of leaving low-Earth orbit empty, the firm is supporting the production of independently owned, commercially ran spaceport station. NASA has actually long dealt with industrial partners to provide materials to the ISS, and more just recently, it has actually partnered with SpaceX and Boeing to carry astronauts utilizing the Dragon and Starliner spacecraft.

Structure on the success of these programs, NASA has actually invested over US$ 400 million to motivate business to establish brand-new spaceport station, Science Alert reported. The objective is to have them all set and operating before the ISS is decommissioned in 2030.

“NASA has actually led in low Earth orbit for 25 years and counting. Now, as we get ready for deorbiting the International Space Station in 2030, we’re contacting our business area partners to preserve this historical human existence. The American area market is expanding. Insight from these ingenious business will be indispensable as we work to chart the next stage of industrial spaceport station,” said NASA Administrator Sean Duffy as quoted by NTD.

Duffy also noted that NASA’s “Phase 2 Announcement for Partnership Proposals” sets out prepare for the next action: “The capability of personal market to handle the job of supplying regular utilisation of Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) and keeping a constant U.S. existence in area is of crucial value to both NASA and U.S. objectives.”

According to Science Alert, NASA’s Phase 2 proposal calls for private companies to demonstrate stations that can safely host four people for at least 30 days in orbit. Once these designs pass strict safety checks, NASA can buy missions and services from these stations.

The program also works alongside the Johnson Space Centre’s Commercial LEO Development Program, which will help develop new destinations in orbit.

China’s Growing Presence In Orbit

As new commercial space stations are developed, China’s Tiangong space station continues to host astronauts in orbit. This permanently crewed station, designed for three people, circles the Earth at about 250 miles (402 km) above the surface.

If the ISS retires and its streak of continuous occupation ends, Tiangong will take over as the longest continually inhabited space station in operation.

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A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on what’s creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture.

News viral ISS Prepares To Retire In 2030: How NASA Will Maintain Human Presence In Space

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