Humans have now had a continuous presence in space for 20 years thanks to the International Space Station (ISS), but the facility is unlikely to survive into the next decade. What comes next could shape the future of space exploration.
Unsurprisingly, the ISS is starting to show its age. Earlier this month, astronauts finally fixed an air leak that had been going on for more than a year—and this is just one of a litany of maintenance problems the station has faced recently.
At present, funding for the station will run out in 2024, and while it’s likely that this will be extended to 2028, few expect any commitments beyond that point. Despite this, all of the world’s major space agencies say humanity needs a permanent presence in low-Earth orbit. How that will be achieved still seems uncertain, though, and could have a significant impact on space travel in the coming decades.
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/Service Ventures Team
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