Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Wait-a-Minute!
Image credit: Barbara David

Enter the “wait-a-minute” world of space stations.

Early this morning I saw the International Space Station slip across my Colorado mountain skyline.

I waved, but I don’t think they saw me.

But I did ponder the early demise of this huge human outpost in Earth orbit.

Incremental utility?

“It is time to begin preparations for deorbiting the Space Station,” recently explained SpaceX chief rocketeer Elon Musk on an X posting.

Sprawling but aging International Space Station.
Image credit: NASA

“It has served its purpose. There is very little incremental utility. Let’s go to Mars,” Musk said. “The decision is up to the President, but my recommendation is as soon as possible. I recommend two years from now,” Musk advised.

SpaceX has a NASA contract to junk the orbiting outpost into the ocean in coming years.

SpaceX-provided deorbiting of the International Space Station under NASA contract.
Image credit: SpaceX

Inclination “eternal”

But no need to worry. The Russian’s will soon fill the missing in action ISS void.

The first module of the Russian Orbital Station (ROS) is being prepared for hurling into polar orbit in less than three years.

Projected Russian orbiting station.
Image credit: Roscosmos/Inside Outer Space screengrab

That’s the word from RSC Energia’s Ilya Zheleznov, a lead engineer in the ROS design department.

In a recent Pro Kosmos interview, Zheleznov said that ROS will become the base for assembling and sending ships into deep space. The high orbital inclination of ROS will not only allow advancement in the development of radiation protection, but its modular design will extend the service life indefinitely.

“It could be eternal,” Zheleznov advised.

Image credit: Roscosmos/Inside Outer Space screengrab

Nose-dive

To nose-dive into the International Space Station discussion, go to:

NASA Responds to Musk Statements about Deorbiting ISS, Butch and Suni by space policy analyst Marcia Smith at:

https://spacepolicyonline.com/news/nasa-responds-to-musk-statements-about-deorbiting-iss-butch-and-suni/

Also, go to:

Ocean experts raise concerns over deorbiting the International Space Station at:

https://spacenews.com/ocean-experts-raise-concerns-over-deorbiting-the-international-space-station/

Lastly, check out the informative Pro Kosmos interview (in Russian) with Ilya Zheleznov at:

https://vkvideo.ru/video-219699195_456241129?ref_domain=prokosmos.ru

Wait-a-Minute!
Image credit: Barbara David