Why the International Space Station Is Coming Back to Earth
The International Space Station (ISS) speeds around Earth at 8 km (5 mi) per second. But its time in orbit is coming to an end. Explore why this landmark of international cooperation is headed for a controlled re-entry and a final splashdown near Point Nemo.
Discover how the ISS was built, what decades of microgravity research have revealed, and why structural fatigue makes saving the station so difficult. We examine alternatives to deorbiting, the lessons of Skylab, and what comes next—from Artemis and Moon bases to commercial space stations.
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Timeline
00:00:The International Space Station's coming return to Earth
01:45:What is the ISS? Specifications, size, and speed
03:19:Building an orbital bullet train: a global achievement
05:49:ISS history and post-Cold War collaboration
07:38:Mir as a template and assembling the station in orbit
10:00:Science in freefall: microgravity experiments
12:47:Space technology spin-offs and 25 years of research
14:12:Why structural fatigue prevents saving the ISS
15:45:Why not bring the ISS home, park it, or let it drift?
18:46:Skylab and the risks of uncontrolled re-entry
21:02:The final splashdown near Point Nemo
23:15:What comes next: Artemis, Moon bases, and commercial space stations