Jeddah Astronomy: Final Countdown Underway for the International Space Station

The International Space Station (ISS) is a familiar sight in the night sky for millions across the Arab world and around the globe, but this will soon be a memory. NASA plans to end the station's mission and deorbit it into the Pacific Ocean in early 2031, after more than 30 years of service.
 Jeddah Astronomy Society Director Majed Abu Zahra stated that the ISS is currently facing significant structural and financial challenges. Originally designed for a lifespan of about 15 years, the station will exceed 30 years of operation by the end of this decade. Key systems are experiencing technical problems, parts of the station have been damaged by micrometeoroid impacts, and air leaks have increased its annual operating costs to over $3 billion. Consequently, NASA intends to redirect resources toward its lunar and Mars exploration programs.
 He explained that the American D-Orbit spacecraft, developed by SpaceX, will guide the ISS into the Pacific Ocean once its operations end in 2030. He emphasized that bidding farewell to the ISS is not just a scientific or technological event; it represents the end of an era of global human cooperation. Since the first module was launched in 1998, more than 260 astronauts from various nationalities, including Saudi astronauts, have visited the station. Space agencies from the United States, Europe, Russia, Canada, and Japan have collaborated closely, despite occasional political differences.
 Furthermore, Abu Zahra noted that social analysis shows that the long-duration missions and scientific experiments conducted on the ISS have contributed to our understanding of humanity's ability to thrive in harsh environments. This knowledge paves the way for future missions to the Moon and Mars. He stressed that the end of the station's mission represents more than thirty years of discovery and innovation; it also marks the beginning of a new phase in commercial and scientific space exploration.