Posts: 1031
From: New Jersey, USA
Registered: Mar 2010

posted 06-05-2011 10:50 AM               

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I know it's about 10 years away or so but are there any plans by anyone to try to bring back a part or the ISS? Considering the historical significance and all.

Yes I know that the chances are low considering that the US is (and soon will be was) the only nation that has a large enough spacecraft to bring back segments of the ISS, but are there any plans?

Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 06-05-2011 11:02 AM               

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Though the partners just recently agreed to extend use of the International Space Station to 2020, discussions have already started to extend it again to 2028. So it's likely going to be some time before the partners turn their focus to returning ISS to Earth.

But to my knowledge, no, there are no plans to return intact components to Earth. There have been some basic proposals however, about using parts of the ISS as components for a vehicle to move beyond Earth orbit.

Posts: 3445
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000

Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999