NASA has confirmed plans to deorbit the International Space Station (ISS) in 2030. The station will be directed into a remote Pacific Ocean region. The U.S. space agency now shifts focus to commercial space stations, aiming for continuous research presence in Low Earth Orbit.

BulletsIn

• ISS active since 1998, modules first launched that year
• Continuously crewed since Nov 2000
• Hosted astronauts from US, Europe, Russia, Japan, Canada
• Over 4,000 experiments, 4,400+ research papers
• Breakthroughs in medicine, materials, genetics, astronomy
• NASA to deorbit ISS in 2030, Pacific Ocean landing zone
• 2021: contracts to private firms for space station projects
• $400M invested in commercial station development
• Sept 2025: draft call for Phase 2 proposals issued
• New stations must host 4 astronauts for 30+ days
• NASA will act as customer, buy services, not own stations
• SpaceX, Boeing already in commercial crew and cargo deals
• China’s Tiangong may soon be longest continuously crewed station
• ISS legacy seen as symbol of international cooperation