Deep in the Pacific Ocean lies a remote location known as Point Nemo that has become the final destination for many spacecraft . This “space graveyard,” located more than 2,600 km from the nearest coast , is ideal for receiving the remains of satellites , stations and other spacecraft at the end of their useful lives.
The origin of Point Nemo
Point Nemo, named after Captain Nemo, a character in Jules Verne’s ” 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea “, was determined in 1992 by engineer Hrvoje Lukatela.
Its position makes it the furthest site from any land mass , minimising any risk to human populations or maritime traffic. The region is used by various space agencies, such as NASA and Roscosmos , to prevent accidents and keep space debris safe for re-entry.
The spaceship graveyard will receive new guests
Since the 1970s, more than 260 spacecraft have been sent to Point Nemo, including stations such as the Soviet MIR. In the future, the International Space Station is also expected to be deorbited here, given its mass and the care required to avoid any risk when entering the Earth’s atmosphere.
Controlled reentry of spacecraft is carefully managed, National Geographic reports. Most of each spacecraft disintegrates in the atmosphere, while the larger debris ends up deep in the Pacific , about 12,000 feet below the surface, where it doesn’t significantly affect the environment.
In the following video you can see real images of Point Nemo .
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Source: Inspenet
Main photo: AI generated
Internal photo: Wikipedia
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