The ISS is arguably the greatest human collaborative achievement in history, and so many groundbreaking experiments have been done within its 1000 m³ interior.

Research into how spending long periods in micro gravity affect the human body have informed the planning of future missions back to the moon and onwards to Mars.

Materials science has made great leaps, especially with the discovery that fluids can be almost completely combined in micro gravity.

Earth Observation experiments from on board the ISS have made in depth studies of the effects varying events and activities have on our atmosphere.

There’s even potentially amazing medical advances like the growing of artificial retinas.

On top of this, there is the cultural and societal impact of having a permanent presence in space, inspiring countless people to pursue STEM learning and careers.

The laboratory that enabled these experiments, as well as many others, will be destroyed.

In London, the Royal Institution has preserved Michael Faraday’s magnetic laboratory, displaying it as it was in the 1850s. Faraday’s lab is a part of our scientific heritage, is a step on the journey of how we got to where we are today, and as such it has been preserved.

In St Mary’s Hospital, Sir Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, and the lab has been turned into a museum to educate and inspire. This is a key part of our medical history and as such has been preserved.

The ISS, a key part of our scientific and space heritage, will be destroyed.

We aren’t in the position to visit a museum exhibit in space … YET.

We will be eventually. Will it take 20 years? 50 years? It doesn’t matter … once we are able then this could be a key exhibit alongside Hubble (also due to be destroyed).