Why don't we sell ISS to other countries?

We should sell the ISS rather than just let it crash and burn. The countries that currently own it could split the monies. I am thinking for instance China could be interested or perhaps a multi nation purchase say India, Pakistan Japan etc... There must be someone who would buy it and they could fly astronauts up there using Space-X or Russian Soyuz as well as supplies. For a fee we could continue to provide technical support to keep things working.

At least we would get something out of it rather than nothing. We could use what ever funds from the sale to buy fuel for an Orion mission or what ever...

Maybe parts of it are in good enough condition to be placed in orbit around the Moon or mars to act as a lifeboat? Maybe with some minor modifications?

Seems such a waste to just burn it up. Maybe if your going to destroy it, maybe it would be better to crash it into the moon somewhere. You could then recover the resources like aluminum and other stuff to use in the future on the moon by re-smelting it or something.

Why just let it burn up? If nothing else it could be used as shielding for the next stations.

At the very least you would think the solar panels could be reused to provide backup power to future stations.

originally posted by: Xeven
maybe it would be better to crash it into the moon somewhere.

How would you get it to the moon?

It cant just break orbit and travel there

a reply to: Xeven

The space race is still going on. Selling the whole of the ISS to China would give China a permanent foothold in space - China would become the first country to own a territory in space.

a reply to: crazyewok

Ad Astra Scouts Role In Future Ventures
A second Ad Astra study envisions the Vasimr tug as an orbiting space cleaner, addressing concerns raised by NASA’s orbital debris program office, as well as the United Nations and others, that space junk levels have reached a critical point. Collisions between existing debris will inevitably spawn more junk unless some of the most menacing rocket bodies and fragments can be deorbited.

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Vasimr Lunar Tug

originally posted by: swanne
a reply to: Xeven

The space race is still going on. Selling the whole of the ISS to China would give China a permanent foothold in space - China would become the first country to own a territory in space.

originally posted by: Xeven
Perhaps we can trade it for our Debt...would be worth it.

If we lose the space race, we lose the possibility for future space colonisation. You think the first country to own territories in space will care about international agreements? The first country to go on a planet will claim that planet, period. Then the Spacers will place space travel regulations and limitations near "their" territories so to block Earthling interference with their affairs. The Spacers will simply maroon Earthlings on the Third Rock.

So, sure, the sell would make a slight change on the economy - but at what price?

a reply to: Xeven

I thought the ISS was an international operation so if we were to sell the thing I really cant see why it would be a bad idea. Rather typical of humanity's greed and arrogance to let the thing burn up than sell it to China, I say give them a shot they cannot do any worse than NASA or any of the other agency's that have been involved thus far.

a reply to: andy06shake

Right, I am sure China would not mind having a vantage point of attack (and/or shelter) in space, in an eventual World War III.

a reply to: Xeven

We should sell the ISS rather than just let it crash and burn. The countries that currently own it could split the monies.

Sell it to who? The countries that own it are the only ones going there.

They already foot the costs of servicing the ISS, according to this.
Because of the enormous cost over its lifetime (150 billion) and continuing costs of 7.5 million dollars per man day.

Its not about how much can we get for it, but how much it costs to maintain it.

The ISS is arguably the most expensive single item ever constructed. As of 2010 the cost is estimated to be $150 billion. It includes NASA's budget of $58.7 billion for the station from 1985 to 2015 ($72.4 billion in 2010), Russia's $12 billion ISS budget, Europe's $5 billion, Japan's $5 billion, Canada's $2 billion, and the cost of 36 shuttle flights to build the station; estimated at $1.4 billion each, or $50.4 billion total. Assuming 20,000 person-days of use from 2000 to 2015 by two to six-person crews, each person-day would cost $7.5 million,

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The Russians have plans to "recycle" certain parts of the station into another space station. The article continues…

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More from the Voice of Russia…

It took three billion dollars every year to service the ISS, with each party to the ISS programme contributing their share of spending.

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a reply to: swanne

That's the kind of thinking that holds us back buddy. Why would China start a third world war considering they own rather a significant proportion of Americas debt? You cannot get paid if the world is in flames. I strongly suspect the motivations pertaining to the sale or non sale of the ISS to a foreign nation would have more to do with hubris than anything else. We just couldn't bear to see someone else doing a better job with the thing.

originally posted by: swanne
a reply to: andy06shake
Right, I am sure China would not mind having a vantage point of attack (and/or shelter) in space, in an eventual World War III.

The ISS doesn't present any significant advantages for "attack (and/or shelter) in space", they have their own satellites and ICBMs.

a reply to: intrptr

None of them which are habitable. None of them which can be manned by a crew.

None of them which can serve as a low-gravity dock to build bigger spaceships.

Its the international space station .. Not Americas space station ...

a reply to: Xeven

As typical, this thread spools around outdated technology, meaning a laboriously built, jerry-rig space station that is more of a show piece constructed of various tunnels than a decent habitat for intense and continued scientific work. Like the old SkyLab, it has served its several purposes. The more purposeful one being further enlightening the milling humans below what can be possible in working in space from a scientific perspective and thus broadening the overall human perspective and understanding of the cosmos.

What is not recognized and totally ignored by all participants is the military side that silently slips along ahead of anything that the ISS does or can ever provide. So-called pure scientific investigations of any sort are not going to take a backseat to advantages that an endowed and capable military force can or will do when it sees the need to better its competitors.

People, allow yourselves the one, single acceptance that the mysterious triangles that I and many other have witnessed are authentic craft produced by the US--disallow that they are connected to the things called alien UFOs if you wish--and you can easily understand as I've shown several times on ATS with the US Space Force's stated goals are our space exploration efforts and expertise are not tied to the existence of the ISS, the old shuttle, new space plane or the much recently touted Orion crap. Exploration and control of space is a military matter first, a pure scientific endeavor second--or didn't you know that?

In effect, stop believing what government and its handmaiden, science, tells you in the popular media--and that also includes right here on good, ol' ATS.

There are many reasons selling is not a viable option.

The OP mentioned boosting it to orbit the Moon.
Right now the ISS orbits low enough to provide radiation shielding for astronauts. Otherwise they would hit their lifetime allowable limits very quickly.
The Moon provides zero radiation shielding.

Using it for a military outpost or otherwise.
Lets see . . . Like maybe you know exactly where it's going to be and what time it will be there ? ? ?
Can you say easy target???

I can't come up with good enough reasons to keep it now. Let alone until 2020.

originally posted by: swanne
a reply to: Xeven

The space race is still going on. Selling the whole of the ISS to China would give China a permanent foothold in space - China would become the first country to own a territory in space.

China already has a permanent foothold in space and has a space station.

They are also planning their own version of the ISS which they say will be open to international co-operation.

Take a walk around, kick the solar panels.
Alright I'm interested... How many miles on this thing ?

That would be a huge no-no. Not only is it bad form to sell off a priceless invention like that, the ISS could contain technologies that are secret that would be dumb to mindlessly give away like that. Also, the ISS has more value to it than being a mere tool and awesome vehicle to circle the globe in. That value is personal for all of whoever is involved with any of the missions of the ISS since it first launched in 1998, and beyond that, whoever was involved with the building of the ISS. Much like how your car has non-numeric value to you, the ISS has with those who use it.

I also think it would be a great blow to the image of all involved with the ISS if they threw it out there like a junkyard sale item. Other countries might hesitate to do business with us in the future. That's a terrible idea that I'm surprised anyone would mention or even think about.


a reply to: Xeven

originally posted by: Xeven
We should sell the ISS rather than just let it crash and burn.
Why just let it burn up?

Because the materials and components that make up the ISS have a shelf life. Space is a harsh environment and nothing lasts forever without maintenance.

This is for safety. Remember Mir?

The station would have to be renovated at the end of this shelf life and no nation has the will to spend the money to do that. It would probably cost almost as much as a new station.