The End Of The International Space Station

1A

NPR

News

4.4 • 4.3K Ratings

🗓️ 22 October 2025

⏱️ 34 minutes

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Summary

The ISS has been in low orbit above the earth for almost 25 years.

It’s played host to astronauts from around the world. But that’s about to come to an end.

NASA is gearing up to deorbit the ISS in 2030 and it’s working with private companies to begin development of commercial space stations to take its place.

What will that transition look like? And what does the commercialization of space hold for humanity in the near and far futures?

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Transcript

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0:00.0	In the U.S., national security news can feel far away from daily life.
0:05.0	Distant wars, murky conflicts, diplomacy behind closed doors.
0:09.5	On our new show, Sources and Methods.
0:11.5	NPR reporters on the ground bring you stories of real people,
0:15.3	helping you understand why distant events matter here at home.
0:18.8	Listen to sources and methods on the NPR app or wherever you get your
0:22.4	podcasts. Right now, it's above the Indian Ocean, traveling over 17,000 miles per hour,
0:36.6	and flying 260 miles above the surface of the Earth.
0:40.0	The International Space Station has been a mainstay in the sky for 25 years.
0:44.7	It's played host to astronauts from around the world and functions as a low-gravity laboratory,
0:49.7	helping to push science forward. But its time in the sky is coming to an end.
0:56.3	NASA plans to deorbit the station guiding it into the Pacific Ocean. What will feel that void? I'm Jen Moyt. You're listening to
1:02.0	the One-A podcast. We talk about that and more after this short break. Stay with us.
1:10.3	This message comes from Wise, the app for using money around the globe.
1:15.0	When you manage your money with Wise, you'll always get the mid-market exchange rate with no hidden fees.
1:21.0	Join millions of customers and visit Wise.com. T's and Cs apply.
1:26.1	Support for NPR and the following message come from the estate of Joan B. Kroc, whose
1:30.9	bequest serves as an enduring investment in the future of public radio and seeks to help
1:36.3	NPR be the model for high-quality journalism in the 21st century.
1:42.2	Let's launch into the conversation with our guest.
1:45.2	John Horack is a professor, the vice president of research, and Neil Armstrong's
1:49.4	chair in aerospace policy at the Ohio State University.
	...

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