Earth’s Most Isolated Place: A Lifeless Dumping Ground for…

In space, thousands of satellites gradually stop working once they reach the end of their lifespan. But have you ever wondered where these old satellites go? They are not dropped over any country, but instead sent to one of the most remote and uninhabited places on Earth, which is known as Point Nemo. This location is also known as the 'Spacecraft Cemetery' because it is where more than 100 space objects have been discarded. Let's learn about Point Nemo and why it is referred to as the graveyard of space missions.

What is Point Nemo?
Point Nemo is the most isolated and deserted spot on Earth, located in the South Pacific Ocean. No humans, animals, or plants can survive there. This place serves as a dumping ground for defunct satellites, spacecraft, and other space debris. This specific location was discovered in 1992 by Croatian survey engineer Hrvoje Lukatela. According to reports, over 100 satellites and spacecraft have already been sent to their final resting place, which is Point Nemo.

Where is Point Nemo located?

Point Nemo lies over 2700 kilometers from the best know islands of New Zealand and Chile in the South Pacific Ocean. Point Nemo is known for being the most distant area from any land on Earth, it is located 2688 kilometers from the closest land mass. It is regarded as one of the most remote places on the planet.

What is fascinatiing is that christians share an International Space Station which orbits around 415 kilometers above this point region. Thus, astronauts floating in the outer space are nearer to this point than any human on earth! Since that region is void of human inhabitation, scientists often use it as a zone to dump satellites that can pose no risk or threat to nabhorig regions and thus keep it safest.

Why is it called the “spacecraft cemetery”?

Spacecrafts and satellites have a designated point for reentry, best known as The Point Nemo. This ensures that the operations conducted are done in a way that is controlled. When operating on populated areas, these zones can face a lot of casualties. This is one of the reasons why scientists aim these objects to rest at Point Nemo to minimize harm. 

Around 1971 and 2008, multiple space objects were carelessly disposed of by countries including the US, Russia, Japan, and a number of European nations. The decommissioned Russian Mir space station was also deployed to the watery grave.

Point Nemo: The Oceanic Pole of Inaccessibility. Without a doubt, one of the most remote locations on Earth.

Will it turn into a dumping site?

In the future, Point Nemo will remain an attractive dumping site for satellites and spaceships. In the next few decades, even the ISS might be deorbited and sent crashing into this region.

Due to the rise in satellite launches and space missions, more waste is anticipated to be collected in this area. Scientists are also examining how long space junk lasts in the ocean, hoping to understand the impacts of using Point Nemo, the so-called “spacecraft cemetery,” on the environment in the long term.