International Space Station. Archive photo.
Stephen Siceloff, a public relations representative from NASA`s John F. Kennedy Space Center, has confirmed that the planned deorbiting of the International Space Station (ISS) poses no threat to inhabited regions. He clarified that the station will be directed for a controlled re-entry into the Pacific Ocean, thereby eliminating any concerns about it landing elsewhere.
NASA has contracted SpaceX to develop an uncrewed spacecraft with a large cargo bay, specifically designed for the safe deorbiting of the ISS.
The first component of the ISS was launched in November 1998, with the inaugural expedition arriving two years later in 2000. While the station was initially expected to operate until 2020, its service life has been extended. Russia plans to continue operating its segment until 2028, and other international partners have expressed a desire to maintain operations until 2030.
Dmitry Bakanov, head of Roscosmos, stated that the deorbiting program project for the station is already prepared, and the entire process is estimated to take approximately two and a half years.
Rupert Blackwood 
Clement Ashworth