NASA’s Definitive Plan to Deorbit the International Space Station into Point Nemo by 2030

The Controlled End of an Era: Decommissioning the International Space Station

As the International Space Station (ISS) approaches the planned end of its operational life around 2030, NASA and its international partners are preparing for one of the most complex and critical maneuvers in space history: the controlled, destructive re-entry of the massive orbital laboratory. This procedure is essential to prevent the station, which weighs over 400 metric tons, from falling uncontrolled over populated areas.

The plan, developed by NASA and detailed in various official reports, centers on ensuring the station’s remains plunge safely into the most remote location on Earth: the South Pacific Ocean Uninhabited Area (SPOUA), often called Point Nemo.

Why a Controlled Deorbit is Non-Negotiable

The ISS is the largest human-made structure ever placed in low Earth orbit, spanning roughly the size of a football field. While most small satellites burn up completely upon re-entry, the sheer mass and robust construction of the ISS mean that many components—including heavy structural elements, docking ports, and specialized equipment—will survive the intense heat of atmospheric friction and reach the surface.

An uncontrolled re-entry poses an unacceptable risk. If the station were simply allowed to decay naturally, the debris footprint could potentially stretch across thousands of miles, threatening major cities and infrastructure across the globe. Therefore, the final disposition must be precisely managed to guarantee public safety.

The Danger of Uncontrolled Re-entry

• Massive Scale: The ISS mass exceeds 400,000 kilograms, ensuring significant debris survival.
• Risk Area: The station’s orbital path covers regions inhabited by 90% of the world’s population.
• Precedent: The 2001 controlled re-entry of the smaller Russian space station Mir demonstrated the necessity and feasibility of this complex maneuver, though the ISS presents a far greater challenge.

The Deorbit Maneuver: The Role of the Specialized Tug

The controlled re-entry process requires a precise series of orbital adjustments, culminating in a powerful braking burn that directs the station toward the designated impact zone.

Crucially, the ISS does not possess the internal propulsion capacity required for this final, massive maneuver. While Russian Progress cargo vehicles have historically been used to perform periodic reboosts to maintain the station’s altitude, the final deorbit requires significantly more thrust and control.

NASA’s plan involves utilizing a specialized spacecraft—often referred to as a Deorbit Vehicle or Space Tug—to provide the final, decisive push. This vehicle will dock with the ISS, effectively becoming its dedicated engine for the final hours.

Sequence of the Final Descent

The deorbit procedure is a multi-step process designed to gradually lower the station’s orbit while ensuring the final impact point is accurate:

1. Initial Decay: The station’s altitude will be allowed to naturally decay over several months or years, saving fuel and reducing the required final thrust.
2. Preparation and Docking: The specialized Deorbit Vehicle will dock with the ISS. All non-essential systems will be shut down, and the station will be oriented for the burn.
3. Deorbit Burns: A series of precisely timed engine firings (deorbit burns) will be executed. These burns slow the station down, lowering its perigee (lowest orbital point) and ensuring it intercepts the atmosphere at the correct angle and location.
4. Final Braking: The final, crucial burn will be initiated over the Pacific Ocean, ensuring the trajectory places the debris path directly over the uninhabited zone.
5. Atmospheric Breakup: The ISS will begin its destructive re-entry at an altitude of approximately 120 kilometers. Most of the structure will vaporize, but surviving debris will continue along the predicted path.

Destination: Point Nemo, the Spacecraft Graveyard

The target for the ISS debris is the South Pacific Ocean Uninhabited Area (SPOUA), also known as Point Nemo (named after the character in Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea). This location is the oceanic pole of inaccessibility—the point in the ocean farthest from any landmass.

This area is already the designated final resting place for hundreds of decommissioned satellites, cargo ships, and space stations, earning it the nickname, the “spacecraft graveyard.”

By targeting Point Nemo, NASA ensures that any surviving debris falls harmlessly into the deep ocean, far from shipping lanes, fishing grounds, and human habitation.

The Timeline and Future of Low Earth Orbit

The official timeline places the end of ISS operations and the subsequent deorbit around 2030. This decision aligns with the structural limitations of the 25-year-old station and the shift toward commercializing Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

NASA plans to transition its research activities to commercially owned and operated space stations, which are expected to be operational well before the ISS is decommissioned. This transition is intended to free up NASA resources for deep space exploration, specifically the Artemis program aimed at returning humans to the Moon.

“The ISS has been an unprecedented success in international cooperation and scientific discovery. Planning its safe deorbit is a critical final step to ensure its legacy includes a safe transition for future activities in low Earth orbit.”

Key Takeaways

• Timeline: The International Space Station is scheduled for controlled deorbit around 2030.
• Method: A controlled, destructive re-entry using a specialized, high-thrust Deorbit Vehicle (space tug) is required.
• Safety: The maneuver is necessary because the ISS is too large (over 400 metric tons) to burn up completely, posing a risk to populated areas if uncontrolled.
• Destination: The debris will be directed to the South Pacific Ocean Uninhabited Area (Point Nemo), the designated spacecraft graveyard.
• Context: The decommissioning paves the way for commercial space stations and allows NASA to focus resources on the Artemis program.

What’s Next

In the coming years leading up to 2030, NASA and its partners will finalize the design and procurement of the dedicated Deorbit Vehicle. This vehicle must be robust, reliable, and capable of delivering the precise thrust required to manage the descent of the massive station. The successful execution of this plan will set a crucial international precedent for the safe disposal of future large-scale orbital infrastructure.