NASA is working to find a way to dispose off the International Space Station. This will be the final and most fiery conclusion of decades of valuable research in microgravity.It is unknown when the old orbital outposts will end. NASASpaceflight reports that a NASA safety panel approved a plan to send at least two Progress-made Russian spacecraft to drag the 450-ton structure into Earth's atmosphere. Once there, it will become a huge flaming ball of molten steel and other materials.Problem is? Russia has recently stated that it plans to leave the ISS by 2025. NASA and its international partners are yet to commit to a specific plan despite approval of safety panels.NASA is continuing to work with its international partners to ensure a safe deorbit plan of the station and is considering a number of options, NASA spokeswoman Leah Cheshier told UPI, noting that such the stations death is negotiation-sensitive at this time.AdvertisementAdvertisementNASA is still undecided about how to end the ISS.The 30-year-old station was launched in a series by NASA and Russia, beginning in 1998. It is expected to be finished in approximately seven years.Space.com reported that the Russian-made Progress spacecraft plan was first proposed in 2010.The assessment estimates that the required propellant for re-entry would be approximately nine tons. NASA included plans for early termination in case the station was evacuated due to a catastrophe or ISS no longer being able to control it.AdvertisementAdvertisementRussia's ability to pull off such a feat is a matter of great concern, as it has been described as a series of catastrophes. The agency's Nauka module, a brand-new Nauka module, accidentally fired its thrusters during docking maneuvers this month, causing the station to spin just one-and-a half revolutions.However, it will take some time to settle on a plan of disposal for the old station.Although Russia has agreed to the provision of the Progress capsule in principle, there are still some tasks that must be done, NASA safety panel chairwoman Patricia Sanders explained to UPI. It is difficult to plan like this for the space station, because there is an international community. You can't decide what you will do.For the moment, however, the ISS will remain in orbit.AdvertisementAdvertisementSpace.com was informed by NASA in November that while ISS is approved for operation through December 2024, it has been cleared to fly to the end of 2028 from a technical perspective.NASA's inability to plan how to get rid of this massive and ultimately useless space junk within a half-century is not encouraging.READ MORE: NASA considers disposing of the International Space Station [UPI]More about the ISS: Europe Launched Brainless Slime Mold Blobs to SpaceAdvertisementAdvertisement
