Latest / What If: Science, Theory, and Possibilities
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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The skinny
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