Commercial space travel is set to revolutionize Earth’s orbit with the impending decommissioning of the International Space Station (ISS). In its place, a new station will rise, orbiting the Moon called Gateway. Elon Musk’s company SpaceX is currently working on building a ship that will push or tow the ISS into the Pacific Ocean at an estimated cost of 800 million euros.
Since its launch in 2000, the ISS has been a vital part of space exploration, with astronauts and cosmonauts continuously living and working there. However, with time running out, NASA has announced that the station’s last astronaut will turn off the lights around 2030. Due to its massive size, which is similar to that of a football field, it cannot simply be sent down into the atmosphere. Instead, plans are being made to direct it towards Point Nemo, a remote location in the Pacific Ocean’s depths, to ensure safety for humans on Earth.
SpaceX is currently working on a spacecraft capable of moving the 430-ton station in the right direction. With commercial space travel gaining momentum and private companies planning to utilize the space station after its decommissioning, NASA is looking towards Gateway as the next step in space exploration. The new space station will serve as a gateway for astronauts to explore further into space by 2030 and beyond.
The ISS has been an incredible achievement in human history and has paved the way for future commercial space travel. As we prepare for this new era of exploration, we must continue pushing boundaries and reaching for new heights in our pursuit of knowledge and discovery beyond our planet.
