From Orbit to the Moon: The Audacious Plan to Recycle the ISS

Since its first module launched in 1998, the International Space Station has represented the pinnacle of sustained human presence in space. Barring any further extensions, the ISS is due to retire around 2024¹ . This impending retirement presents both a challenge and an unprecedented opportunity. The conventional approach would involve a controlled deorbit, allowing most of the structure to burn up in Earth's atmosphere. Yet this seems almost wasteful for structures that have proven so durable and valuable.

Meanwhile, NASA's current focus has shifted toward lunar exploration through the Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon¹ . The centerpiece of this effort is the Lunar Gateway, a planned space station in orbit around the Moon that will serve as a communication hub, science laboratory, and habitation module for astronauts² . This parallel development raises a compelling question: rather than building an entirely new station from scratch, could we give the ISS a second life precisely where humanity is headed next?

The timing for such an ambitious repurposing project aligns perfectly with current space exploration timelines. The Gateway's first elements aren't scheduled for launch until 2027, providing a narrow but feasible window for engineering studies and mission planning² . Simultaneously, commercial space stations like the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) have demonstrated the viability of expandable habitats, showing how modular space architecture can evolve and grow¹ .

Repurposing ISS modules for lunar service represents one of the most complex engineering challenges ever contemplated. The journey from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to lunar orbit requires traversing approximately 384,000 kilometers of space while overcoming profound technical hurdles.

The profound differences between the orbital environments represent the first major challenge. The ISS resides in LEO, where it remains partially protected by Earth's magnetic field, which deflects much of the harmful radiation found in deep space. A module traveling to lunar orbit would lose this protection, requiring enhanced radiation shielding throughout the structure. Engineers are studying several approaches to this problem, including arranging flexible water bags around crew quarters and adding internal radiation shielding to critical areas.

The power and propulsion systems of ISS modules were designed for station-keeping in LEO, not for the journey to the Moon. Each module would require a sophisticated space tug—perhaps using advanced solar electric propulsion systems like those planned for the Gateway's Power and Propulsion Element (PPE), which employs Hall-effect thrusters for efficient deep-space travel² .

In 2017, international space agencies conducted crucial studies on the feasibility of cis-lunar habitats, generating valuable data that could apply to repurposed ISS modules. This research initiative represented the first serious engineering effort to understand what it would take to create human habitats in lunar orbit.

The experimental study focused on developing a Cis-lunar Transit Habitat (CTH) with specific parameters suitable for deep space operations. An international team of engineers from NASA, ESA, and JAXA collaborated to create a module design that could support crews for extended periods in the challenging lunar orbital environment.

Methodology:

Successfully converting an ISS module for lunar service requires specialized technologies and systems. These essential tools represent the culmination of decades of space station experience and recent technological advances.

The concept of repurposing ISS modules as a lunar habitat represents more than just an engineering solution—it embodies a fundamental shift toward sustainable space exploration. As we stand at the threshold of establishing a permanent human presence beyond Earth orbit, we must challenge the disposable mentality that has characterized much of our space infrastructure to date.

By 2050, space habitats with rotating sections to simulate gravity could become common features in orbit, serving as gateways for regular trips to the Moon and beyond¹ . These future stations will need to incorporate the lessons learned from both the ISS and any repurposing projects we undertake today. The technological and operational knowledge gained from giving the ISS a second life at the Moon would directly inform the construction of these more advanced habitats.

The vision of a permanent human settlement on the Moon is closer than many realize³ . Architectural firms like Hassell have already created conceptual designs for lunar habitats that could accommodate up to 144 people using modular components and local materials³ . These ambitious plans depend on the success of intermediate steps like the Lunar Gateway—which could potentially be accelerated through the repurposing of existing space infrastructure.