Don’t miss out of viewing Earth from Space on YouTube LIVE from the International Space Station (ISS)

https://www.youtube.com/live/86YLFOog4GM?feature=share

Come 2024-2030, the ISS will be coming down in a Fireball!

In the near future, NASA is planning to use a space tug to safely deorbit the International Space Station (ISS) by 2030. This plan comes as Russia has announced its intention to leave the ISS in 2024 and build its own low Earth orbit (LEO) station with weapons and spying capabilities. As the ISS is currently the only large-scale human space station in existence, the loss of the Russian presence on the ISS will be a significant blow to the future of space exploration, and the space industry.

As of December 2022, there are no known operative orbital weapons systems, but several nations have deployed orbital surveillance networks to observe other nations or armed forces. Several orbital weaponry systems were designed by the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. With advances in A.I. there isn’t a need to put humans in Space any longer. Simply send A.I. And control A.I. from Earth. Highly dangerous Tests and Weapons could be placed in Space. Or Other unthinkable Experiments as well like Climate Harvesting. Changing Climates by Space. Unthinkable Frankenstein Testing upon Nations on Earth. Or taking out entire populations by newly discovered ways that only a weaponized A.I. has finally come up with. Unthinkable things and unthinkable Machines. But for the ISS-

The space tug, which is currently being developed by NASA’s Johnson Space Center, is designed to gently guide the ISS out of its current 330-km/220-mile orbit and into a controlled deorbiting procedure. The space tug is designed to remove the slow acceleration of air and solar drag on the ISS, allowing it to slowly descend into Earth’s upper atmosphere. Before the ISS enters the atmosphere, the tug will deploy a large inflatable ring around the station to create drag, slowing the ISS and allowing it to safely reenter the atmosphere. This ring acts as a parachute, absorbing the energy of the reentry, protecting the ISS from any dangerous heat or plasma buildup.

Once the ISS reaches an altitude low enough for the Space Shuttle orbiter to maneuver around the station, the shuttle orbiter will dock with the ISS, transferring the crew and all supplies to the cargo bays, as well as preparing the ISS for the final deorbiting procedure. The space tug will then detach from the ISS, and the ISS will be prepared for atmospheric reentry.

When the ISS reaches an altitude of 60 kilometers, the estimated point at which it will no longer be able to maintain stable orbit, the tug will fire its engines to increase the ISS’ rate of descent, allowing it to reenter and burn up in Earth’s atmosphere. As the ISS disintegrates, the energy released and the various pieces falling to the ground will be observed by the world’s space agencies to gain insight into the structural damage and heat generated during reentry.

NASA’s plan to deorbit the ISS will be a historic milestone in space exploration and space industry history, allowing the human presence in space to be maintained despite the end of the era of cooperation between the US and Russia on theISS. The safety and accuracy of the procedure will depend on the space tug, the successful docking of the shuttle orbiter, and the gravity of Earth. By deploying the space tug, NASA is ensuring a safe, reliable, and carefully orchestrated mission to bring the ISS down slowly and safely. Furthermore, the loss of the Russian presence on the ISS as a result of building their own LEO station will pave the way for a new era of exploration, as the scientific and commercial opportunities of the space industry are pursued with vigour.

The International Space Station (ISS) is a permanent orbiting research facility that has been in operation since 1998. It is a collaboration among multiple countries, including the United States, Russia, Canada, Japan, and European nations, who each contribute components, access, and funding to its construction and operation. Since its initial activation, the ISS has become an important symbol of international cooperation in space exploration, and has been seen both as a great success and a great expense.

The idea for an Earth-orbiting research station dates back to the 1940s, when Wernher Von Braun proposed such a facility as a “space laboratory” for scientific, technological, and medical experiments. However, it wasn’t until the mid-1970s that the concept was seriously discussed, largely as a result of a joint space mission between the Soviet Union and the United States. But the War in Ukraine has severely strained the relations between the two Countries.

The early plans for the ISS were based on the design of the previous Soviet space station Mir, and it was initially jointly funded by the United States and the Soviet Union. In 1989, the partners agreed on a plan to build a new station, later named ‘Freedom”, which would be larger and more sophisticated than the Mir station.

Construction of the ISS began in 1998, launching with the U.S. module Unity, and continued until the final module, Tranquility, was launched in February 2010. Since then, the ISS has acted as a home and laboratory, allowing experiments that would be impossible on Earth and providing opportunities for exploration of the space environment.

In addition to the scientific data collected from the ISS, the station and its resident crew have provided interesting dramatic visuals in the form of dazzling video from outside and the inside of the station, providing viewers with a glimpse at life and work in space. The crew has also been filmed to create exciting educational videos about various scientific and medical experiments in space.

In addition to its research and exploration functions, the ISS also serves as a symbol of international cooperation. Its long-term presence in orbit demonstrates the importance of ongoing partnerships in space and can serve as a reminder that national boundaries are insignificant when it comes to space exploration.

The ISS is scheduled to remain in operation until 2024, in which point, it is likely to be replaced by the upcoming Lunar Gateway.

The Lunar Gateway is an orbital space station funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) that will act as a platform for research and human exploration of our Moon and beyond. It will serve as a base for astronaut operations in deep space and a gateway to the inner Solar System. Its primary purpose is to collect science data about our Moon and facilitate the development of plans for a sustained human presence on the lunar surface. The Lunar Gateway will also provide a way to communicate with Earth from this strategic position, and even provide an inter-planetary transportation hub via the Lunar Transfer Vehicle.

But the Lunar Gateway is extremely costly. And it would require lots of Revenue. Mining of the Moon is a Goal by some Earth Companies to obtain extremely difficult to find precious Metals. But many on Earth are struggling to get by and a Lunar Gateway is not something that they feel a part of. Space Exploration is now being seen as a Rich Man’s Follies. And could cause many to get very upset when $Trillions are spent.

The lunar gateway would be funded primarily through public and private sources. Governments around the world, including the US, EU, Russia, China, India, and Japan, would likely contribute together, forming an international pool of money. The US commercial space industry could also contribute to the funding.

The expenditure would depend on the scope of the project that is determined by the funding sources. Estimating the cost of the lunar gateway is difficult, but it is likely to include different components, including spacecraft, launch vehicles, propellants, habitats, solar panels and other ground support equipment. The launch costs would depend in part on the size and number of vehicles and the number of launches required.

Other expenditures would likely include the cost of logistics and consumables for the mission, insurance, communications and navigation equipment, and personnel. The cost of research and development for the project, as well as the cost of studies and any additional testing, would also need to be taken into account.

BUT!

Supporters of the Lunar Gateway include the United States, Canada, and the European Space Agency (ESA). Japan, India and other countries are also expected to contribute to components of the project. NASA is the primary champion and the US has committed to providing the majority of the funding for the project so far.

Opponents of the Lunar Gateway are more vocal. Chief among them is Russia, who criticized the Gateway for its cost and the considerable delay it would likely cause in the return of humans to the moon. China has also expressed skepticism over the project, citing similar concerns. Additionally, some critics have argued that the Gateway’s dependence on long international collaborations may make it difficult to realize.

This Lunar Gateway will prove very quickly who your Friends are and who your Opponents are. But how worth while is it? Everyone will be questioning the Massive Infusions of Money to create it. But also, how long will it be viable and what longevity will it be given?

It is expected that a lunar gateway will be operational for at least a few years before it is servicing spacecraft for missions to the lunar surface. It is important for the gateway to be tested, checked, and verified for its full capabilities before it is dropped.

Urine can theoretically be filtered and drunk multiple times, but this would require an advanced filtration system that is not currently available for use in space. This process would be extremely difficult and time-consuming, so it is not considered a viable method of providing water in space.

Astronauts are not limited in the amount of water they are allowed to drink in space as long as they can resupply it. However, the average daily consumption of an astronaut is typically around 4.3 liters of water.

The International Space Station (ISS) was originally designed to last for 15 years, from 1998 to 2013. It has since been extended through 2024 and is expected to last at least to 2028.

Instead of fire–balling the ISS, why can’t it be SOLD to Countries who wish to keep it up in Space for further Studies? Like Saudi Arabia using SpaceX as transportation to and from it?

The ISS is an international structure and is governed by international law. In order for any changes to be made to the ISS in terms of ownership and management, all interested countries must agree to those changes. This is unlikely to happen as each country has different interests and different motivations for participating in the project. It’s Life could be extended to 2050 if other Countries wanted it?