An attractive idea: Can the International Space Station be sent to lunar orbit?

There are many ideas and plans among scientists on how to end the International Space Station.

On April 25, Russian media published an article by experts proposing an extremely appealing concept: Is it possible to transfer the International Space Station (ISS) from its nearly Earth orbit to a near-lunar orbit?

This idea is tempting because the ISS:

Has residential modules, laboratories, and modern life support systems;

Is equipped with everything necessary for long-term crew accommodation;

It has power supply, communication, and navigation systems.

At first glance, moving towards the Moon will save a lot of money and time compared to starting from scratch to create a lunar orbital station...

However, reality is that due to various reasons, technically it is impossible to send the ISS to the Moon:

Speed and fuel

The International Space Station moves at about 7.66 km/s in its Earth orbit. To switch to a lunar orbit, it is necessary to increase this speed by approximately 3.1 km/s. Considering the mass of the ISS (about 420 tons), such acceleration would require approximately 600 tons of fuel!

The ISS was not designed for flights beyond low Earth orbit:

Solar panels are designed for a distance of 1 astronomical unit from the Sun. In a lunar orbit, this will cause a severe reduction in the efficiency of the energy system.

The temperature control system is not adapted to the lunar environment;

It lacks the protection necessary for deep space environments;

The docking nodes and structures will not be able to withstand the load under strong accelerations.

Astronauts will be exposed to powerful radiation outside the Earth's magnetosphere:

Solar flares and high-energy particle streams;

Galactic cosmic rays;

Overall radiation levels increase.

The ISS lacks proper radiation protection in deep space.

Communication and navigation systems

The ISS communication system is designed to work with ground stations. To function in a lunar orbit, entirely different antennas and transmitters would be needed.

Life support systems

The current life support system of the ISS does not have sufficient autonomy and requires regular replenishment from Earth. Moreover, if an accident occurs, the crew will not be able to return to Earth within a few hours - evacuation will take days.

The sad future of the International Space Station

Unfortunately, scientists have prepared a more mundane fate for the International Space Station. Experts predict that by 2030, its life will end, after which the International Space Station will fall into the Pacific.

It is worth noting that before falling into the Pacific, some ISS modules can be separated and used as the foundation for a new orbital station.

However, the most valuable legacy of the International Space Station will be the invaluable experience of operating the most complex space system and long-term international cooperation, which forms the basis for creating future lunar bases.

Reference: THE SPACEWAY

"Can the ISS be sent to lunar orbit?"

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Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1830423897242826/

Disclaimer: The article represents the views of the author alone.