The space cemetery, Point Nemo, a watery grave where space stations go to die

[Still Waters]

At the furthest point from any landmass on earth, and 4km under the sea, lies the space cemetery.

When their outer space journeys come to an end, old satellites, rocket parts and space stations are sent to this desolate spot in the Pacific Ocean to rest on the dark seabed forever.

The technical name for this stretch of water is the “ocean point of inaccessibility” because it lies about 2,700km from any land. But it is more commonly known as the space cemetery, or Point Nemo – named for the fictional submarine captain in Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

It’s here that the International Space Station, the football-field-sized laboratory orbiting Earth, is likely to end up. Reports emerged this week of cracks in the ISS and while the fissures may not spell its imminent demise, it is certainly in its twilight years.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/sep/04/thousands-of-kilometres-from-anywhere-lies-point-nemo-a-watery-grave-where-space-stations-go-to-die

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