Veteran NASA astronaut Don Pettit recently returned from the International Space Station, where he spent 220 days on his latest mission. With over 590 days of experience in orbit, Pettit believes the ISS can operate well past its planned retirement date of 2030. The 70-year-old astronaut, who completed his third long-duration expedition to the station, argues that there is no technical reason why the ISS needs to end then.
Pettit points out that the B-52 bomber remains in service despite being over 60 years old, and he believes a similar approach could be applied to the ISS. “There’s no limit to what we could do to space station except for our will to keep refurbishing it and having the funding necessary,” he said.
However, NASA’s safety panel recently warned of increasing risks to the ISS as it ages, citing concerns about cracks in a Russian module, uncertainties about deorbit plans, and constrained budgets. Pettit’s desire to extend the ISS life also conflicts with NASA’s efforts to shift to commercial stations and industry’s need for a firm retirement date.
Despite his physical challenges after returning from space, Pettit expressed no interest in retiring. “I’m ready to go back when the flight docs say I’m ready,” he said. With over 590 days of experience in orbit, Pettit is well-versed on the ISS and has seen significant improvements since its early assembly phase. The station has evolved into a “well-oiled machine,” with greater capabilities and resources.
As NASA plans to retire the ISS at the end of the decade, Pettit’s advocacy for extending its life highlights the complexities of transitioning to new space stations. With ongoing refurbishment efforts and potential commercial partnerships, the future of the ISS remains uncertain.
Source: https://spacenews.com/veteran-nasa-astronaut-says-iss-can-operate-past-2030