The international space station is by far the largest spacecraft ever built by earthlings. Circling the Earth every 90 minutes, it often passes over North America and is visible from the ground when night has fallen but the station, up high, is still bathed in sunlight.
After more than a decade of construction, it is nearing completion and finally has a full crew of six astronauts. The last components should be installed by the end of next year.
And then?
“In the first quarter of 2016, we’ll prep and de-orbit the spacecraft,” says NASA’s space station program manager, Michael T. Suffredini.
via As Space Station Nears Completion, It Faces End of Mission – washingtonpost.com.
I’m aware that this is a game of words and politics and the nasa people are trying to get more public support…but what the fuck man, why would you say something like that. The ISS is a beacon of scientific achievement, why throw it all away?
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What
The
Fuck
?
Thank you NASA for burning up all our moneys in the earths orbit. Way to one up the politicians.
Is it really up to NASA alone? Aren’t there other nations who might want to extend the time. Do they have something else in the works?
It circles the Earth every 90 minutes? That sucker is movin’!
Why the hell would you even bother pulling it down? If you don’t want to man and supply it anymore, fine, but when it comes down to it, that space station is fucking awesome. Just leave it in orbit somewhere so we have something pretty to look at.