On a chilly morning in 1998, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, the world witnessed the launch of the first module of the International Space Station (ISS), marking the beginning of one of the most ambitious engineering projects ever undertaken. Over the next ten years, the United States and Russia collaborated to expand the ISS to the size of a football field. Since 2000, it has continuously hosted humans, serving as a testament to both engineering prowess and international cooperation.
Recently, Russia announced its intention to leave the ISS after 2024, a decision that could significantly impact the station’s future. This announcement came from Yuri Borisov, the new head of the Russian space agency, who replaced Dmitry Rogozin. Borisov stated that the decision to leave is not politically motivated but rather a strategic move to focus on developing a new Russian space station.
The ISS is over 20 years old, and its aging technology presents numerous challenges. Russia’s decision to depart is partly due to the increasing time spent on repairs rather than scientific experiments. The main computers on the ISS, dating back to 1988, have less processing power than a PlayStation. Upgrading these components is a complex process, as they need to be radiation-hardened for space, which can take years.
NASA regularly sends laptops and tablets to the ISS, but many of these devices fail over time. With over 100 laptops onboard, a significant number are non-functional. As the ISS ages, Russia’s desire to move on is understandable. However, the ISS is a collaborative effort, and each partner plays a vital role in its operation. The U.S. provides power and communication for the Russian segment, which houses thrusters crucial for maintaining the station’s orbit.
The thrusters in the Russian segment are essential for re-boosting the ISS, which loses altitude due to atmospheric drag. If Russia detaches its segment, the ISS could struggle to maintain its orbit and avoid debris impacts, complicating its eventual decommissioning. Alternatively, Russia might leave its segment for the U.S. to use, which would be beneficial as it contains one of the two bathrooms on the ISS.
Even if Russia separates from the ISS, collaboration with the U.S. will be necessary to manage the logistics of detaching the segment, which is not designed for disassembly.
Russia aims to launch its own space station, named ‘Ross,’ by around 2028. Historically, Russia has been a pioneer in space station development, but the current state of their space program raises questions about meeting this timeline. The proposed station is expected to be largely automated, with crews visiting infrequently for maintenance and experiments, making it more efficient and cost-effective than the ISS.
Despite the uncertainties, the prospect of having three space stations orbiting Earth is thrilling. With ambitious plans from NASA and SpaceX, we might even see space stations around the Moon and Mars in the future. It seems that Russia’s announcement to leave the ISS could be a negotiation tactic, with the ultimate goal of continuing collaboration with NASA and international partners beyond 2024. This continued partnership would allow the ISS to keep advancing our scientific understanding of Earth and the universe.
For those interested in deepening their understanding of space, science, math, or engineering, Brilliant.org offers interactive courses in STEM subjects. This online learning platform helps you think critically and grasp complex topics in an engaging way. If you’re curious about the science behind black holes, check out the new course by Kurzgesagt on Brilliant. To start learning for free, visit brilliant.org/primalspace. The first 200 people will receive a 20% discount on Brilliant’s annual Premium subscription.
Research the history of the International Space Station, focusing on its inception, construction, and the role of international collaboration. Prepare a presentation to share with your classmates, highlighting key milestones and the contributions of different countries, especially the U.S. and Russia.
Participate in a debate about the potential impacts of Russia leaving the ISS. Form teams to argue either for or against the idea that Russia’s departure will significantly hinder the ISS’s operations. Use evidence from the article and additional research to support your arguments.
Work in groups to design a concept for a new space station, considering technological advancements and international collaboration. Present your design, explaining how it addresses the challenges faced by the ISS and how it could function without Russian involvement.
Analyze the challenges of maintaining aging technology in space, as discussed in the article. Write a case study that explores the specific issues faced by the ISS and propose solutions or improvements that could be implemented in future space missions.
Investigate Russia’s plans for its new space station, ‘Ross.’ Create a report that examines the feasibility of these plans, considering the current state of Russia’s space program and historical context. Discuss how this new station might compare to the ISS in terms of technology and international collaboration.
This video is supported by Brilliant. This is Baikonur, Kazakhstan, on a cold winter morning in 1998. On this day, the world’s most expensive and impressive engineering project came to life: the first module of the International Space Station (ISS) was launched into orbit. Over the next decade, the United States and Russia expanded the ISS to the size of an entire football field. Since the year 2000, it has had a constant presence of humans living and working onboard. Not only has it been an incredible engineering achievement, but the collaboration between America and Russia is also noteworthy. However, it seems that this collaboration may be coming to an end, as Russia has announced plans to leave the ISS after 2024.
Before discussing the implications for the space station, we need to mention Dmitry Rogozin, the former head of the Russian space agency. He was known for his humorous tweets and controversial statements, including threats regarding the Russian segment of the ISS. Recently, he was replaced by Yuri Borisov, who announced that Russia would be departing from the ISS to start its own space station. According to him, this decision is not politically motivated.
This development isn’t entirely surprising. The ISS is over two decades old, and as the technology onboard ages, it presents more challenges. One reason for Russia’s departure is that they are spending more time on repairs than conducting experiments. The main computers on the ISS date back to 1988 and have less processing power than the original PlayStation. Upgrading technology is complicated, as components must be radiation-hardened for space, a lengthy process that can take years.
While NASA sends regular laptops and tablets to the ISS, they are expected to fail, and many of the over 100 laptops onboard are non-functional. The ISS is aging, and if Russia wants to move on, they should be allowed to do so. However, the ISS is an international collaboration, and each member plays a crucial role in its operation. The U.S. provides power and communication for the Russian segment, which contains thrusters essential for maintaining the station’s orbit.
These thrusters are vital for re-boosting the ISS, as it loses altitude due to atmospheric drag. If Russia were to detach its segment, the ISS would struggle to maintain its orbit and avoid debris impacts, complicating its eventual decommissioning.
Another possibility is that Russia might leave its segment intact for the U.S. to use, which would benefit astronauts, as one of the two bathrooms is located in the Russian segment. Even if Russia separates from the ISS, they will need to collaborate with the U.S. to manage the logistics of detaching the segment, which is not designed for disassembly.
Russia plans to launch its own space station by around 2028. Historically, Russia has been a leader in space station development, but the current state of their space program raises questions about the feasibility of this timeline. Their proposed space station, named ‘Ross,’ aims to be largely automated, with crews visiting infrequently for maintenance and experiments. This new station is expected to be more efficient and cost-effective than the ISS.
Regardless of the current situation, the prospect of having three space stations orbiting Earth is exciting. With ambitious plans from NASA and SpaceX, we may even see space stations around the Moon and Mars in the future. Ultimately, it appears that Russia’s threat to leave the ISS may be more of a negotiation tactic. Engineers on the ground suggest that the goal is to continue collaboration with NASA and international partners beyond 2024, allowing the ISS to keep advancing scientific knowledge about Earth and the universe.
Another great way to learn about the world is Brilliant.org, an online learning platform that offers interactive courses in STEM subjects. Brilliant helps you think critically about problems and understand complex topics in an accessible way. If you’re interested in space, science, math, or engineering, Brilliant has a variety of courses designed to deepen your understanding. I recommend checking out the new course by Kurzgesagt, which explores the math and science behind black holes in an engaging format. To get started for free, visit brilliant.org/primalspace or click the link in the description. The first 200 people will receive a 20% discount on Brilliant’s annual Premium subscription. Thank you for watching, and I’ll see you in the next video.
Engineering – The application of scientific and mathematical principles to design and build structures, machines, and systems. – The engineering team developed a new bridge design that can withstand extreme weather conditions.
Space – The physical universe beyond the earth’s atmosphere where celestial bodies are located. – The satellite was launched into space to collect data on cosmic radiation.
Technology – The use of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry. – Advances in technology have significantly improved the efficiency of renewable energy systems.
Collaboration – The action of working with someone to produce or create something, often seen in scientific and engineering projects. – The collaboration between the aerospace engineers and physicists led to the successful development of the new propulsion system.
Orbit – The curved path of a celestial object or spacecraft around a star, planet, or moon. – The satellite entered a stable orbit around Earth to begin its mission of climate monitoring.
Thrusters – Devices used to propel spacecraft by expelling mass in the opposite direction of the desired movement. – The spacecraft’s thrusters were activated to adjust its trajectory for the Mars landing.
Experiments – Scientific procedures undertaken to test a hypothesis or demonstrate a known fact. – The physics lab conducted experiments to measure the effects of microgravity on fluid dynamics.
Maintenance – The process of preserving a condition or situation, or the state of being preserved, especially in engineering systems. – Regular maintenance of the reactor is crucial to ensure its safe and efficient operation.
Challenges – Difficulties or obstacles that require effort and skill to overcome, often encountered in engineering projects. – One of the main challenges in designing the new aircraft was reducing its carbon emissions without compromising performance.
Exploration – The action of traveling in or through an unfamiliar area to learn about it, often applied to space and scientific research. – The exploration of the lunar surface has provided valuable insights into the history of our solar system.
