International Space Station set to dive into 'Point Nemo' in 2030

Point Nemo (Image: Ada Cukminski)

After more than two decades orbiting Earth, the International Space Station will retire. Its journey has enabled global cooperation and groundbreaking research in space. But ageing modules and rising maintenance costs have prompted its planned deorbit. By 2030, the station will complete its final descent mission.

NASA selected Point Nemo, the most isolated ocean location, for reentry. The site has long served as a spacecraft graveyard. Hundreds of satellites and stations rest beneath its deep waters. Its remoteness ensures minimal risk to life and property.

Point Nemo takes its name from author Jules Verne’s imagination. It honours Captain Nemo from 'Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea'. The fictional explorer ventured through equally remote and mysterious regions. Verne chose “Nemo” from Latin, meaning “no one” or “nobody”.

This symbolised isolation and the mystery of the deep sea. It lies about 2,688 kilometres from the nearest landmass. Located deep in the Pacific Ocean, Point Nemo is unmatched in remoteness. It lies between Ducie Islands and Motu Nui to the north.

A specialised deorbit vehicle will guide the ISS’s final fall. This craft, likely built with SpaceX assistance, ensures a controlled reentry. The process will prevent debris from scattering across populated regions.

Only a small fraction of the station may survive reentry intact. These fragments will sink harmlessly into the Pacific depths.

The ISS, launched in 1998, now shows structural fatigue. Future operations risk safety and stability for onboard astronauts. Deorbiting allows for a clean transition to commercial space stations. NASA and global partners will continue low-Earth orbit research collaboratively.

Private companies are preparing replacements for the iconic ISS legacy. Orbital stations are new and will present upgraded technology and long-term missions which are sustainable. Even as one of the chapters comes to an end, humanity is still travelling to space.