NASA has a plan to safely bring down the International Space Station (ISS) when it's time for it to retire, but it’s a bit risky. They’ll use a special spacecraft to guide the ISS into the atmosphere, where most of it will burn up. However, some big pieces might survive the fall and could rain down as debris on Earth. The goal is to crash the remaining parts in a remote part of the ocean, far away from people. NASA's being super careful with this, so they don’t expect any major problems. Still, the idea of debris falling from space sounds a little wild, right? Animation is created by Bright Side. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Music from TheSoul Sound: https://thesoul-sound.com/ Check our Bright Side podcast on Spotify and leave a positive review! https://open.spotify.com/show/0hUkPxD34jRLrMrJux4VxV Subscribe to Bright Side: https://goo.gl/rQTJZz ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Our Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brightside Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightside.official TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brightside.official?lang=en Stock materials (photos, footages and other): https://www.depositphotos.com https://www.shutterstock.com https://www.eastnews.ru ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For more videos and articles visit: http://www.brightside.me ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This video is made for entertainment purposes. We do not make any warranties about the completeness, safety and reliability. Any action you take upon the information in this video is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any damages or losses. It is the viewer's responsibility to use judgement, care and precaution if you plan to replicate.
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00:00On November the 2nd, 2000, the first crew of astronauts arrived at the International Space Station.
00:07Almost 25 years have passed and the ISS still remains one of the most outstanding projects created by humanity.
00:14During all this time, 280 astronauts from 23 countries have visited the station.
00:20This place has become a floating laboratory for space research where people from all over the world come together to explore our universe.
00:29The station remains a source of inspiration for writers and movie directors.
00:33This is not only one of the most important parts of the scientific field of humankind, but also an important attribute of pop culture.
00:41The station makes one circle around Earth every 90 minutes.
00:44And very soon, one of its next circles will become the last one.
00:49NASA is going to destroy the ISS.
00:52Space and science fiction fans may feel sad at this moment, but there are good reasons for such a difficult decision.
00:59The ISS, like any physical object, is not eternal, especially in the conditions of outer space.
01:06Yes, there is no oxygen, atmosphere, oxidation of materials and air pressure,
01:11but the ISS is moving at an altitude of about 260 miles above the Earth's surface at a speed of 17,900 miles per hour.
01:21Which is almost 20 times faster than the speed of sound.
01:25Also, the space around the planet is filled with debris consisting of broken satellites.
01:31And don't forget about stardust and tiny pieces of meteorites.
01:35What if something crashes into the station and blows it to pieces?
01:39Yeah, NASA is tracking the largest pieces of debris, but there are more and more of them every year.
01:45Under such conditions, the station can't serve us forever.
01:49The parts are wearing out and the station fasteners are becoming weaker and require frequent repairs.
01:55The station was supposed to only last 15 years, but it will eventually last twice as long.
02:01In 2030, astronauts will leave the ISS and then it will be destroyed.
02:06But how can this be done given the size of this object?
02:10It weighs 430 tons and is the size of a football field.
02:15It is the largest object after the moon that flies around our planet.
02:20People made 42 launches into space to construct this gigantic structure.
02:25Given its size and close location to Earth, destroying the station is a big risk.
02:31Just imagine it disintegrating into hundreds and thousands of fragments and falling to the surface of our planet.
02:37Yes, some of these chunks will burn up in the atmosphere.
02:41Others will fall into the water, but some large parts can fall on cities.
02:46It will be a devastating meteor shower.
02:49This option is too dangerous, but this is exactly what NASA is about to do.
02:54The disposal of the station will probably be a more complex operation than its creation.
03:03Of course, scientists have considered other options besides the destruction.
03:08For example, we could return all the astronauts to Earth and then send the station to a higher orbit so that it would fly there forever.
03:16However, such an operation would be too expensive.
03:20In addition, changing the orbit might not save the station from collapsing.
03:25We definitely don't need a huge piece of metal that could fall apart at any moment over our heads.
03:31That's why destroying the station is the only option.
03:36To destroy the station, scientists plan to send it to a lower Earth orbit,
03:41then carry it through the atmosphere where some parts of the station will burn,
03:45and after that, submerge the station in a remote part of the ocean where ships don't sail and fish don't swim.
03:52By the way, this place is called Point Nemo, and it's located in the South Pacific Ocean.
03:58This is the farthest point from land.
04:00For many years, people have been dumping space debris and failed satellites there.
04:05It's considered one of the most lifeless and loneliest places on Earth.
04:09NASA plans to drop the ISS there, but this requires very precise calculations and control.
04:16The operation can't be fulfilled without a special space tug,
04:20and this unique machine will be invented by Elon Musk's SpaceX company.
04:26Musk signed an $845 million contract with NASA.
04:31According to it, the station should be safely destroyed by 2031.
04:36And that's how this cinematic operation is going to happen.
04:40The device that will lower the ISS to Earth will be built according to the design of the SpaceX Dragon ship capsule.
04:47Scientists plan to calculate the details of the station's flight trajectory,
04:51all angles of incidence, and the speed of movement.
04:55No mistake can be made, as any miscalculation will lead to disaster.
04:59Our planet is a giant object with a powerful gravitational force that attracts other objects to itself.
05:06The ISS uses thrusters to resist this attraction and stay at the same height.
05:11So, first of all, the station will need to reduce its resistance.
05:16If necessary, it can use the engines to adjust the route.
05:19From an altitude of 260 miles, the station will descend into an orbit of 205 miles above Earth.
05:27After that, SpaceX will launch its space tug.
05:30All this will happen about a year before the scheduled date of destruction.
05:34During this time, the astronauts will fold up scientific equipment, say goodbye to the station, and return home.
05:41This sad moment will be recorded on camera and posted on the Internet.
05:46After that, the whole planet will watch the dramatic finale of the ISS.
05:52The space tug will dock with the station and transport it to the lowest point of the orbit, approximately 90 miles above the surface.
06:00There, the station will experience huge air resistance.
06:04It will become increasingly difficult to control the fall.
06:08The tug must be equipped with powerful rocket engines to correct the flight.
06:12Scientists will control the shuttle, calculating the trajectory of the fall.
06:17Then, SpaceX's device will begin to push the station down.
06:21The giant space object will pass through the thickest and most dangerous layers of the atmosphere.
06:27It will burn down the station, which will be falling apart by that time.
06:31This will be a mesmerizing fire show.
06:34Some parts will burn up in the air, others will pass through the barrier.
06:38At high speed, incandescent parts will collide with the surface of the Pacific Ocean.
06:44Millions of people will be watching the last flight of the space legend on the screens of their gadgets and TVs.
06:50The water will be getting closer, and boom!
06:53Pieces of the station will crash into the water with a deafening noise.
06:58Many smaller fragments will fall nearby.
07:01The entire station will cool down quickly and sink to the ocean floor.
07:05Mission completed!
07:07But the history of the station won't be over.
07:12Point Nemo is 2,700 miles away from the nearest land in any direction.
07:18But the best way to get to it is from Easter Island, Chile.
07:23What if rich people from all over the world flew to Chile to then travel to Point Nemo?
07:29Just imagine, covering thousands of miles just to get to the ISS crash site.
07:35People will descend in bathyscaphes to the ocean floor and take out the wreckage of the station.
07:40Someone might start selling them.
07:42Someone will keep them at home as part of a collection.
07:45Perhaps NASA will retrieve some modules of the station to put them in a museum.
07:51But what will happen once scientists finally get rid of the ISS?
07:55The space laboratory is used for research in outer space.
07:59After its destruction, research will continue, but on a grander scale.
08:04Humanity has to explore Mars, remember?
08:07For such an important mission, it's necessary to prepare astronauts in conditions close to those on the Red Planet.
08:14The Moon is the perfect place.
08:16NASA is conducting the Artemis mission.
08:19We'll explore the lunar surface and we will go on a long journey to Mars from there.
08:24At the end of 2022, NASA launched a probe that flew beyond the Moon.
08:29The next flight will be launched with people on board.
08:32The third flight will be the first human outing on the Moon since 1972.
08:38Gradually, step by step, the agency plans to land several astronauts and space station modules on the surface of the Moon.
08:46They will build large research bases where they will prepare for the first ever human flight to Mars.
08:51By the way, would you agree to go on a dangerous journey to the Red Planet?
08:56Write your answers in the comments!
08:58That's it for today.
08:59So, hey, if you pacified your curiosity, then give the video a like and share it with your friends.
09:04Or if you want more, just click on these videos and stay on the Bright Side!