Where is Point Nemo? The Most Remote Place on Earth

Exploring the Inaccessible Cemetery for Spacecraft

When spacecraft completed their mission and could no longer be used for future operations, they needed to be disposed of safely. There was a specific area designated for this purpose, known as the 'Ocean Point of Inaccessibility,' or more commonly, Point Nemo. This isolated region, located 4 km under the sea, served as a space cemetery where space junk was buried. Even the International Space Station, which had started developing cracks, was expected to find its resting place at Point Nemo.

Point Nemo: The World’s Most Remote Spot

Point Nemo lay in the center of the Pacific Ocean, with the nearest landmass being 2,700 kilometers away, making it highly inaccessible. To the north, the closest landmass was the Ducie Islands, while to the south, it could be reached from Maher Island in Antarctica. According to Atlas Obscura , Point Nemo spanned an area of 22,405,411 square kilometers, making it larger than Russia. The area was named after the fictional character Captain Nemo from Jules Verne's adventure novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. Due to its inaccessibility, it was an ideal location for disposing of space junk.

A Potential Catastrophe in Orbit

According to The Guardian , NASA stated, "There was so much junk that we were worried one tiny collision could trigger a big chain reaction. This possibility was called the 'Kessler Effect.'" The Kessler Effect refers to a situation where the lower orbit of Earth has become overcrowded with space debris, and even a minor collision between two objects could trigger a chain reaction, leading to multiple collisions and making the orbit unsuitable for deploying satellites. Knewz.com noted that there were more than 40,000 man-made objects orbiting Earth, which posed a significant risk.

Future of Satellites

Scientists took careful considerations when it came to removing satellites from their orbits. All decisions were based on scientific models. According to BBC , Satellites in higher orbits were deorbited by using any remaining fuel to cause an explosion. Satellites in slightly lower orbits were nudged out of their operating orbits. Smaller satellites posed little risk as they burned up due to friction when re-entering Earth's atmosphere. For any debris or unburned satellites that passed through the atmosphere, scientists ensured they ended up falling into Point Nemo.

Soon to Be Resting Place for ISS

The International Space Station, which was launched in 1998 as a joint venture of the United States, Russia, Canada, Japan, and European nations, had spent more time in space than initially expected. According to CNBC , a NASA spokesperson had said, "NASA was still actively working to continue to do science and research … the ISS at some point would have its end of life." As the ISS had completed more than 25 years in space and had started showing signs of wear, scientists were working on a plan to safely deorbit it and bring it down to Point Nemo by 2031.