Should ISRO Reconsider Joining the International Space Station Project?

By Surya Prakash Kapoor
Guest Writer

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) must think carefully before committing to assembling or co-managing any version of the International Space Station (ISS), especially as the current one nears the end of its operational life. The ISS, currently maintained by 18 nations, is expected to be decommissioned by 2030 due to structural fatigue and growing safety concerns. Reports have emerged of cracks developing in its frame, raising alarms about the risk it could pose if its massive 420,000-kilogram structure were to fall back to Earth—a potential man-made disaster of unimaginable scale.

Elon Musk have reportedly been tasked with managing the eventual disassembly of the station. Meanwhile, China continues to participate in the ISS project with reluctance, viewing it more as a diplomatic and symbolic necessity than a practical endeavor.

Health issues have also plagued astronauts aboard the ISS. Vegetation like salad, grown onboard, has shown signs of intense ultraviolet radiation exposure due to the absence of the Earth's protective ozone layer at 400 kilometers above the surface. Such conditions create a hazardous living environment, and the long-term health impact on astronauts has been a subject of growing concern.

The scientific and military utility of the ISS has often been debated. While it stands as a beacon of international cooperation and technological prowess, some argue it serves more as a status symbol than a strategically valuable asset. For India, a country still expanding its domestic space capabilities, aligning with a fading legacy like the ISS may not serve its long-term interests.

Views expressed are author’s own. ANM News is not responsible.