Kathmandu, Oct 9: In the middle of the South Pacific Ocean, there’s a remote and dangerous place called Point Nemo, which is the farthest point from any land on Earth. It’s a spot where giant waves, storms, and strong winds make it a challenging and isolated location. Not many people visit this place, except for a few sailors during events like The Ocean Race.

Point Nemo is also known for being a graveyard for spacecraft. Over the years, various space agencies, including the United States, Russia, Japan, and Europe, have intentionally crashed more than 263 space objects into the ocean around Point Nemo. These objects include things like the Russian space station Mir, cargo vehicles, and parts of rockets. The International Space Station (ISS) is also expected to be deorbited and will likely splash down in this area in the future.

When spacecraft re-enter Earth’s atmosphere, they burn up due to the intense heat generated by their speed. However, some parts, like fuel tanks and robust structures, can survive the journey and end up in the ocean. These remnants are usually the largest and toughest parts of the spacecraft.

Even though we know spacecraft debris ends up in this region, nobody has explored the seafloor to study these remnants up close. But the debris that has fallen to Earth in the past, like Skylab, has provided valuable insights. Researchers consider the debris at Point Nemo as a treasure trove for future archaeologists who can learn about our early space exploration efforts and how our values have changed over time, including our shift towards recycling and environmental consciousness.

The conditions at Point Nemo are ideal for preserving these remnants, as the deep, dark, and oxygen-deprived waters slow down chemical processes like rusting. So, the spacecraft parts are likely to remain in relatively good condition even in a thousand years.

In summary, Point Nemo is a remote and isolated part of the South Pacific Ocean where spacecraft debris ends up after re-entering Earth’s atmosphere. These remnants are valuable for understanding our history of space exploration and how our values have evolved. They are expected to be well-preserved in the ocean’s conditions.