The ISS Will Be "Sunk" in 2020

The International Space Station will plunge into the ocean after 22 years in service.

Launched in 1998, the International Space Station (ISS) has been a fundamental piece of scientific ambition, providing a sophisticated platform of experimentation bringing together scientific genius from around the world. Space agencies from the United States, Russia, Japan, Europe and Canada have all left their mark on the ISS legacy.

Russia's space agency announced on Wednesday that the ISS will meet its end by plunging into the ocean in 2020. Orbiting 220 miles above the Earth, the ISS was initially expected to remain there for fifteen years but an agreement between the associated agencies decided it will continue operating until 2020.

The reason behind plummeting the station into the ocean is to avoid leaving behind space debris. "After it completes its existence, we will be forced to sink the ISS. It cannot be left in orbit, it's too complex, too heavy an object, it can leave behind lots of rubbish," explained Vitaly Davydov, head of Roskosmos space agency.

With the recent final flight of the U.S.'s shuttle, and the upcoming watery death of the ISS, we can't help but wonder what will be the future of space exploration?