What is the currently established target timeframe for the ISS's final descent and planned retirement?
Answer
Around the year 2031
The operational lifespan of the International Space Station is finite, and the partner agencies have established a timeline for its controlled end-of-life procedures. The target timeframe currently set for this final descent, involving propulsive burns to guide the structure toward its designated impact zone, is set around the year 2031. This planned retirement marks a significant transition point, shifting focus toward supporting the development and operation of newer, private commercial space stations intended to take over research and access functions in low Earth orbit during the subsequent decade.
Related Questions
What is the approximate orbital speed the ISS clocks in at when circling the Earth?What term describes the constant state of near-collision the ISS experiences relative to the ground?What specific atmospheric layer imposes drag, causing the ISS orbital velocity to bleed off slowly?What maneuver is performed regularly to counteract orbital decay and maintain the ISS altitude?Which visiting spacecraft is mentioned as a typical means of executing ISS reboosts?Why is the continued operation of the International Space Station eventually deemed non-viable?What is the formal term for the ISS end-of-life process designed to safely bring the structure down?Where is the target impact zone specified for the controlled disposal of the ISS debris?What force keeps the ISS continually curving around the Earth rather than drifting into space?What is the currently established target timeframe for the ISS's final descent and planned retirement?