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NASA wants to dump the ISS in the sea. Experts say the plan 'raises serious concerns for ocean health'
Yahoo • • science
Key Points:
- NASA plans to deorbit the International Space Station (ISS) starting in 2028, culminating in a controlled re-entry into the ocean at Point Nemo in 2030 or 2031 using a SpaceX-supplied U.S. Deorbit Vehicle (USDV).
- The Ocean Foundation has raised environmental concerns about the impact of ISS debris on ocean health, highlighting a lack of comprehensive study on the effects of surviving materials on marine ecosystems.
- A U.S. Government Accountability Office report notes NASA's intent to minimize risk to populated areas by targeting remote ocean zones, but international law currently lacks protections for ocean environments against space debris impacts.
- The Ocean Foundation calls for a full environmental impact assessment, public disclosure of reentry materials, and a legal review under international treaties such as UNCLOS and the London Protocol to address the legal and ecological gaps.
- The group emphasizes the need to close international legal loopholes regarding ocean pollution from space debris, underscoring the ISS deorbit as a critical example of this unresolved issue.
