# Can ISS (space station) operate with nobody on board?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-iss-space-station-operate-with-nobody-on-board/854575>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 28, 2020, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-iss-space-station-operate-with-nobody-on-board/854575 "2020-05-28T01:26:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2020, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-iss-space-station-operate-with-nobody-on-board/854575/1 "2020-05-28T01:26:33Z")

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In the remote case someone got CV up there would they bring everyone back? Or do they have to leave 1 person there at all times?

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**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2020, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-iss-space-station-operate-with-nobody-on-board/854575/2 "2020-05-28T07:39:52Z")

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Ground control can take care of the station if it’s unmanned. So, there’s no risk to the station. But people are needed to run the experiments. This almost happened in 2018 after a Soyuz abort left the rocket grounded while they investigated the cause. Had it not returned to flight in time, the crew on board the ISS would have had to return to Earth, leaving the station unmanned.

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**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2020, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-iss-space-station-operate-with-nobody-on-board/854575/3 "2020-05-28T11:28:41Z")

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Apollo 13 had a guy get a cold which is ironic because they replaced one of the crew because he was exposed to measles (I think). The replaced guy didn’t get sick.

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**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2020, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-iss-space-station-operate-with-nobody-on-board/854575/4 "2020-05-28T12:18:57Z")

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> [@Bijou\_Drains](#):
>
> Apollo 13 had a guy get a cold which is ironic because they replaced one of the crew because he was exposed to measles (I think). The replaced guy didn’t get sick.

Close. Fred Haise developed a urinary tract infection in flight, which later spread to his kidneys.