The operational life of the International Space Station (ISS) is set to conclude by the end of this decade. NASA intends to deorbit the ISS, allowing it to re-enter the denser layers of the atmosphere and burn up, with debris expected to fall into the ocean. This operation is planned for approximately 2030, with NASA assuring that environmental risks will be minimal. However, some experts express skepticism.
According to Space.com, the destruction of such a massive object as the ISS, which weighs around 450 tons, could result in the emission of harmful chemicals that may damage the ozone layer. Researcher Leonard Schultz from the Technical University of Braunschweig notes that the ISS's return to the atmosphere could exacerbate pollution caused by space debris.
“Given the mass of the station, this could have a significant impact on the atmosphere, and we are only beginning to understand the scale of this phenomenon,” said Schultz.
Studies have already indicated that the incineration of satellites, such as SpaceX's Starlink, generates emissions of aluminum oxides into the upper atmosphere. These pollutants can remain in the stratosphere for up to 30 years, harming the ozone layer. Research published in Geophysical Research Letters indicates that a 550-kilogram satellite produces approximately 30 kilograms of aluminum oxide nanoparticles.
To facilitate the ISS's deorbit, NASA is collaborating with SpaceX, which is developing a specialized cargo spacecraft, Dragon. NASA has allocated $843 million to the company, which won the contract. This task requires careful monitoring to direct the station to a remote point in the Pacific Ocean known as 'Point Nemo,' located at the maximum distance from any inhabited coastline.
Physicist Luciano Anselmo from the Space Flight Dynamics Laboratory believes that the impact on the ocean will be minimal. He compares it to the mass of sunken ships, which significantly exceeds that of space debris. However, the impact on the upper atmosphere remains a considerable environmental concern, the consequences of which are yet to be fully assessed.
The increasing number of satellite launches and returns of objects from space intensifies atmospheric pollution. The destruction of the ISS will represent the largest experiment of its kind in history, the results of which could alter humanity's approach to the disposal of space objects.
Previously, we reported how SpaceX's Cargo Dragon with enhanced engines is capable of deorbiting the ISS.