Posts: 141
From: Santa Clara, CA, USA
Registered: Nov 2009

posted 08-06-2026 03:54 PM               

---

For all the fits and starts and achievements and tragedies, this space era continues to be amazing. We've learned so much about living in and using space.

Considering the ongoing construction and maintenance of ISS I wonder if things like the main truss and solar power arrays and some basic infrastructure cannot be salvaged for future stations/use other than dumping it all into the ocean. NASA could even auction pieces...

Posts: 56897
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 08-06-2026 06:07 PM               

---

There has been some confusion recently given a short-lived plan for NASA to provide a government-owned and operated core module for whatever commercial space station takes over from the International Space Station, but with that proposal canceled, there are no current plans to reuse any major components from the U.S. segment. (Russia continues to talk about reclaiming its newer modules, but if that happens is still to be seen.)

There has been some talk about returning some smaller items for museum preservation, and within that, the idea has been raised to find some way the public could own a piece if they desire, but all of that is going to be decided by the limited down mass volume available.

Posts: 2067
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010