The outpost will lose its remaining orbital energy here when the denser atmosphere takes over. The ISS will be torn apart by extreme friction as it plunges into the atmosphere.
According to Crassidis, “the solar panels will be the first to separate and break up.” But not all of the ISS will be destroyed by fire.
Its heavier parts, such as the truss segments, may make it through re-entry and land in the sea. The remaining debris must thus be.
As far away from humans as possible, according to mission controllers. They decided on Point Nemo, a secluded area of the Pacific Ocean.
As the ultimate resting place for hundreds of decommissioned spacecraft, including Russia’s Mir space station, which was brought down in 2001, this “spacecraft cemetery” has lived up to its name.
