Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • ELECTRONICS • ELECTRICAL
    • Fastening • joining
    • FLUID POWER
    • LINEAR MOTION
    • MOTION CONTROL
    • SENSORS
    • TEST & MEASUREMENT
    • Factory automation
    • Warehouse automation
    • DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
  • Learn
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Learning center
    • eBooks • Tech Tips
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars • general engineering
    • Webinars • Automated warehousing
    • Voices
  • LEAP Awards
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guides
  • Resources
    • Subscribe
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Engineering diversity
    • Trends
  • Supplier Listings
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

NASA to Exit Space Station By 2028 in Move Toward Moon

By Katie Mohr, Associate Editor, Manufacturing.Net | December 10, 2015

(Image credit: NASA)

When the International Space Station becomes inoperative — in 2028 at the latest — NASA has decided it won’t be seeking a replacement. 

At an advisory council meeting last week, according to Ars Technica, NASA’s chief of human spaceflight William Gerstenmaier announced that they’ll be moving out of the ISS in low Earth orbit and instead pursue cislunar space — the area of space surrounding the moon.

“We’re going to get out of ISS as quickly as we can,” Gerstenmaier said. “Whether it gets filled in by the private sector or not, NASA’s vision is we’re trying to move out.”

Any attempt to occupy low Earth orbit after that point would be in a much smaller, cheaper station shared by about 15 countries.

The ISS has so far been continuously occupied for 15 years, orbiting Earth at 5 miles per second. When decommissioned, NASA will likely deorbit the spacecraft and let Earth’s gravitational pull and atmosphere do the rest. Whatever is left over will likely fall into the Pacific Ocean.

Funding for ISS maintenance was guaranteed through 2024 by the recently passed SPACE Act, but the ISS could require funding for years after that date. By then, the ISS program’s annual budget could rise to $4 billion from the $3 billion it is now.

The SPACE Act also made several maneuvers to encourage private space travel. By the time NASA vacates the ISS, the space it occupies in low Earth orbit could be filled with private platforms for mining, manufacturing or tourism.

But to move toward their dream of long-term habitation on Mars, NASA researchers need to go deeper into space. A visit to the cislunar space would be humans’ first trip outside of Earth’s orbit since the Apollo 17 moon landing in 1972.

Do you think transitioning out of the ISS is the right move for space exploration? Comment below or tweet me @MNetKatie.

You Might Also Like


Filed Under: Aerospace + defense

 

LEARNING CENTER

Design World Learning Center
“dw
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for Design Engineering Professionals.
Motor University

Design World Digital Edition

cover

Browse the most current issue of Design World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading design engineering magazine today.

EDABoard the Forum for Electronics

Top global problem solving EE forum covering Microcontrollers, DSP, Networking, Analog and Digital Design, RF, Power Electronics, PCB Routing and much more

EDABoard: Forum for electronics

Sponsored Content

  • Sustainability, Innovation and Safety, Central to Our Approach
  • Why off-highway is the sweet spot for AC electrification technology
  • Looking to 2025: Past Success Guides Future Achievements
  • North American Companies Seek Stronger Ties with Italian OEMs
  • Adapt and Evolve
  • Sustainable Practices for a Sustainable World
View More >>
Engineering Exchange

The Engineering Exchange is a global educational networking community for engineers.

Connect, share, and learn today »

Design World
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Manage your Design World Subscription
  • Subscribe
  • Design World Digital Network
  • Control Engineering
  • Consulting-Specifying Engineer
  • Plant Engineering
  • Engineering White Papers
  • Leap Awards

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • ELECTRONICS • ELECTRICAL
    • Fastening • joining
    • FLUID POWER
    • LINEAR MOTION
    • MOTION CONTROL
    • SENSORS
    • TEST & MEASUREMENT
    • Factory automation
    • Warehouse automation
    • DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
  • Learn
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Learning center
    • eBooks • Tech Tips
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars • general engineering
    • Webinars • Automated warehousing
    • Voices
  • LEAP Awards
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guides
  • Resources
    • Subscribe
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Engineering diversity
    • Trends
  • Supplier Listings
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
We use cookies to personalize content and ads, to provide social media features, and to analyze our traffic. We share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising, and analytics partners who may combine it with other information you’ve provided to them or that they’ve collected from your use of their services. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use this website.OkNoRead more