The ISS Gets Another Decade

Plans are already afoot to prepare a replacement

Image Credit: NASA

After almost twenty-five years in orbit, the International Space Station is starting to show its age. Vital components are running years beyond their planned lifespan; some now require constant repair to avoid breakdown. Cracks, too, are appearing in the space station walls, creating slow air leaks and raising fears of sudden failure.

Even so, NASA is determined to keep the station running for another decade. In a recent report the agency outlined ambitious plans for the years ahead, a strategy to promote new commercial stations and a concept for how the station will, eventually, be de-orbited.

That decade will see the station complete a series of technology demonstrations: from proving the ominous sounding “faecal resource recovery” system to testing new space suits. The agency is also keen to expand commercial use of the station: a private company, Axiom Space, is expected to add several new modules over the next few years.

Those modules will provide new living space for astronauts, a lab facility and a viewing window. Axiom also plan to send their own astronauts to the station — with the first mission scheduled for March. Other space tourists are likely to follow — especially from Russia and other commercial partners.