What Will Replace The ISS?

Question

The ISS is supposed to be retired between 2015 and 2020. What space station is going to replace it? Will it be replaced? Or has the space station-era come to an end?

Answer 1

There is currently nothing planned to replace it. In fact, there is not really anything with a shuttle-like capability to lob components to assemble something like the ISS in space at this point, although the Ares V would have the required power. But it is intended to lift return-to-Moon, and eventually go-to-Mars, hardware in orbit.



One has to remember that the ISS is more or less the "justification" for the shuttle, and that the ISS mission is much less than what it could have been (several modules were canceled).



The Russians have a plan to scavenge a few of their own modules to serve as the basis for another space station, to be used for deep space mission staging among other things. NASA said it wants to de-orbit its modules, except that the rocket engines able to do so in a controlled manner are on the Russian modules Russia wants to salvage...



So much can happen until then.

Answer 2

Well that would be stupid since the ISS will not be complete until 2010. I don't think it makes sense to spend more time building a lab that you work in it.



The Space Shuttle program will be retired in 2010. in 2015 the Constellation Program will replace it. And we are supposed to return to the moon by 2020.

Answer 3

* The ISS is not going to retire in 2015 and neither in 2020. If you mean that NASA's budget won't be able to support it, than other countries will.

Answer 4

Just like any good science, the ISS is just practice. It was built so we know how to move on to greater things. What we learned in the ISS will be applied to the designed of the moon base.

Answer 5

Sadly, this is true. Apparently the costs of operating the station are too high, so there won't be any replacement in the near future.

Answer 6

if that happens, they will have spent longer assembling the station than operating it in its final configuration. there are no plans for a replacement. seems crazy to me, but what do I know.