NASA plans to operate the International Space Station (ISS) until 2030 and safely crash it into the Pacific Ocean in early 2031.
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Space station structure
ISS is made up of modules,radiators, and truss structures.The truss supports solar arrays, radiators, and pressurized modules for experiments and astronauts.
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Lifespan of ISS
The ISS's lifespan depends on its primary structure, which is affected by dockings and thermal recycling, while other systems can be fixed in orbit.
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ISS disintegration
ISS will be broken up in a seriesof three events starting with the solar arrays, resulting in most of its hardware burning up or vaporizing during atmospheric re-entry.
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Splashdown in Pacific
Denser parts of the ISS and heat-resistant components like truss sections, which are expected to survive re-entry, will splash down in the South Pacific Ocean.