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!
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