THE International Space Station’s days are numbered.
Nasa plans to decommission the much-loved base in 2030, sending it crashing to Earth in pieces before dropping into the ocean.
The ISS was launched back in 1998 and was originally meant to be decommissioned in 2024.
That’s been extended until 2030, with deorbiting due to take place in early 2031.
But that won’t be the end for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) space bases – there are multiple projects vying to take the ISS’s place…
#1 Tiangong space station
The Tiangong space station is China’s own ISS – and it’s already in the skies.
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China launched the first module back in April 2021 and has been continuously inhabited by astronauts since November 2022.
It’s service life is meant to be over 15 years, so Tiangong has a long to go yet.
China will be hoping to lead the space skies with the ISS gone – though recent issues with stranded astronauts may not help their case…
#2 Axiom space station
The Axiom space station is of the projects that has had funding from Nasa to replace the ISS.
It will become the world’s first commercial space station for billionaire tourists – as well as housing scientific research facilities.
The first payload is scheduled to launch in 2027, when it will hook up to the ISS to provide power and thermal capacity.
#3 Orbital Reef
Orbital Reef is an effort led by Jeff Bezos‘ Blue Origin and Sierra Space sold as a “mixed-use business park”.
It’ll be home to a science lab, a hotel for tourists, and much more.
Design images of the inside have already teased a fancy living space for those onboard.
“Think spacious modules with large windows to view Earth, our blue origin, while experiencing the thrill of weightlessness in complete comfort,” Blue Origin says.
#4 Starlab
Starlab is another contender, with hotel chain Hilton on board to come up with designs for the interior.
Relaxation pods and an above-Earth gym are among the luxury amenities being planned – though it won’t be open to space tourists.
It’s expected to launch as soon as 2028.
Other contenders
India is working on its own space efforts with the ISRO Space Station, but it’s not expected to be completed until about 2035.
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Airbus LOOP is Europe’s answer with three levels – but it’s only in the design stages at the moment.
And there’s a joint effort from the US, Europe, Japan and Canada called Gateway too – it was almost cancelled this year due to Nasa budget changes before being saved. It’s set to launch in 2027.
Hot competition
The ISS has been orbiting Earth since 1998 – but nothing within Earth’s orbit can stay in space forever.
The station will continue working until 2030, before plunging into the Pacific Ocean in early 2031, according to Nasa.
In December 2021, the US space agency announced it was awarding a total of $415million (£326million) to three different companies — Blue Origin, Nanoracks (plus Voyager Space) and Northrop Grumman — to help cement their commercial space station concepts.
Nasa also has separate agreements with Vast and Texas-based Axiom Space, which is working on its own private outpost as well as a new series of spacesuits.
Northtop Grumman had initially had its own plans for a space station when Nasa funded it.
However, the company dropped its idea in October last year, to assist Voyager Space with Starlab instead.
