The International Space Station (ISS), one of the most iconic symbols of global scientific collaboration, is entering the final chapter of its mission.
After being continuously inhabited since November 2000, the giant orbital laboratory is scheduled to retire between 2030 and 2031. Its planned deorbit will mark the end of a historic era while paving the way for a new generation of commercial space stations.
A Long Legacy: Decades of Human Collaboration in Orbit
The ISS was first assembled through a series of launched modules beginning in 1998 and has been jointly operated by five major agencies: NASA, ESA, JAXA, CSA, and Roscosmos. Since then, it has served as a home for astronauts 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for nearly 25 uninterrupted years—setting the record for the longest continuous human presence in orbit.
The project stands not only as a technological milestone but also as a symbol of space diplomacy. An aerospace engineer who spent 17 years at NASA described the ISS’s upcoming retirement as “watching a family member complete their mission.”
Throughout its operational life, the ISS has supported more than 4,000 scientific experiments and produced over 4,400 research publications. These studies span materials science, biotechnology, astronomy, combustion, Earth observation, and investigations into extreme environments beyond our planet.
Scientific Contributions That Reshaped Human Understanding
The ISS has consistently enabled breakthroughs that would be impossible to achieve on Earth. Microgravity, radiation exposure, and extreme temperature fluctuations create unique conditions for experiments that open new frontiers across multiple fields.
Some of its most significant achievements include the development of artificial retinas, advancements in crystallizing cancer drugs, sequencing DNA in orbit, observing lightning from above the atmosphere, and producing ultrapure fiber-optic materials.
The low-Earth-orbit environment, unreplicable on Earth, has made the ISS the most advanced research outpost ever operated by humankind.
The Next Chapter: A Shift Toward Commercial Space Stations
Although the ISS is nearing the end of its mission, NASA has ensured that human presence in orbit will not be interrupted. Since 2021, the agency has allocated more than USD 400 million to companies developing commercial space stations that will succeed the ISS.
This transition continues NASA’s long-standing collaboration with the private sector, including cargo and crew transport partnerships with SpaceX and Boeing.
In September 2025, NASA entered the second phase of partner selection for commercial station development. Selected companies must demonstrate a station capable of hosting four astronauts for at least 30 days.
Once these stations meet safety standards, NASA will purchase research services and crew mission access—mirroring the service-based model currently used with the ISS.
ISS Retirement: A Detailed Deorbit Plan
The retirement of the ISS is being jointly managed by the five partner agencies that built it. The controlled deorbit, scheduled for 2030–2031, will ensure that the station’s remnants fall into a safe area of the South Pacific Ocean, specifically the remote region known as Point Nemo.
Key phases of the deorbit plan include:
- Starting 2026 – Gradual Orbit Lowering
The ISS will descend slowly due to atmospheric drag, minimizing risk. - 2030 – Final Crew Departure
The last crew will remove critical instruments and materials before returning to Earth. - 2031 – Controlled Re-entry
SpaceX will operate the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle (USDV), under a contract worth up to USD 843 million, to guide the ISS into its final re-entry. The USDV replaces the earlier plan to use Russia’s Progress spacecraft due to technical and geopolitical considerations.
Tiangong and the Potential for a New Human Presence Record
While the ISS prepares for retirement, China continues to operate its Tiangong space station, orbiting at approximately 402 kilometers above Earth. If the ISS becomes uncrewed, Tiangong could become the station with the longest continuous human presence in orbit.
Filling the Gap: The Rise of New Commercial Stations
Among the leading successors is Starlab, a global project led by Voyager Space. Designed to be continuously crewed, Starlab aims to serve as a hub for microgravity research, commercial activity, and even space tourism.
Its key partners include:
- Voyager Space – project lead and primary operator
- Airbus – engineering and manufacturing provider
- Mitsubishi Corporation – financial and business-development partner
- MDA Space – robotics provider, including SKYMAKER™ technology
SpaceX is scheduled to launch Starlab using Starship. According to Jeffrey Manber of Voyager Space, the shift from a government-led model to a commercial one promises greater efficiency and lower operational costs.
A Changing Era at the Frontier of Space Exploration
The retirement of the ISS marks the end of one of the most significant chapters in the history of science and international cooperation. Yet it also opens the door to a new era driven by private-sector innovation.
Until that moment arrives, the ISS remains one of the brightest objects in the night sky, a reminder that humanity once built the most ambitious orbital laboratory ever to circle Earth.
