to earth in 2020 I heard something on the news but only a little bit that the powers that be are letting it fall back to earth because they won't fund it any longer. So all this money we have invested over the years is gone.

Hope they aim it at the ocean. I don't want to be under it then.

I read where they can't leave it in space. Pieces will fall off eventually and it could cause major problems. So they are planning on dumping it into the sea. :D:D:D

What a waste of money...

I think I remember hearing that it would have outlived it's usefulness.

If true, then better to let it go than to keep throwing money at it. It was well worth the cost while it was in use, and now it's time to retire it and make room for the next thing.

Not a waste at all. Think of it like a car that you buy and maintain for years, then eventually replace. The money you spent on it while it was carting you safely around town wasn't a waste, even when it isn't the car you drive anymore.

AND we did share the expenses on this with other countries... unlike other outer space expeditions :D:D:D

Sorry, I understand what you are saying, but I don't dump my old cars into the ocean. I hate the idea of dumping this into the ocean.

No, we dump our cars on land. Which is where the space station will end up eventually, too, even though it might have a great second career as a habitat for sea life.

everything that gets old is expendable.
(so don't get old, he,he.)

They're not going to LEAVE it in the ocean.

I thought I heard that the last shuttle mission left a year's worth of supplies for future expeditions by other countries, I think primarily Russia. Maybe after that time they will have a better plan.

You know, NASA has a fabulous website where you can go and read ALL about the space station, or watch videos if you'd rather. You can find out what they've done and how they've done it, and what they have planned at the space station in the future.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/st...ain/index.html

how sad is that... space "the final frontier..." I hope they keep on exploring... I think NASA is concentrating on Mars now but their funds have been drastically cut... I hope the sun shines again and soon!

Thanks Peckish!

I am going to check out the nasa site... since I saw on the news that they were planning on using the space station as a stepping stone for mars expeditions.

Can they do that if it is back on earth?

The international space station isn't going anywhere for the next 9 years - except space, of course.

My understanding is they were going to build a station on the moon, and use IT as a stepping stone for Mars, but with the drastic cuts in funding that's not likely to happen. However, now I'm curious... back to NASA's website I go!!! :)

Absolutely not happening. The US shuttle won't be going there any more, but the Russians will. We'll actually be sending Americans to the space station on Russian shuttles. I don't know who started this rumor, but that's all it is - a rumor!