LYING in a remote patch of water in the South Pacific Ocean is a graveyard for decommissioned spacecraft. Known as the Spacecraft Cemetery, this burial site sits 3900km off the coast of Wellington, New Zealand.

The area was chosen for its incredible depth of 4km, its safe distance from shipping lanes and its faraway location from any major cities or populated areas.

While most satellites burn up on re-entry to Earth, the larger spacecraft, including whole space stations, are not fully evaporated meaning large chunks of debris hurtle towards Earth.

Spacecraft lying deep within its waters include the Russian space station, Mir, that was deorbited in 2001 and sent to the cemetery after spending 15 years in space. The 135,000kg space station is the most remarkable object to be deposited in the graveyard to date.

In 2008 the European spacecraft Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere after completing its five month mission to resupply the International Space Station (ISS). High definition video footage captured its re-entry in a stunning light display over the isolated waters as debris was littered over the ocean.

In fact the Russians are the biggest dumpers of spacecraft in the area. Since 1978 they’ve deorbited 80 Progress spacecraft and five Salyut space stations to the area.

Last year, fragments of Russia’s Progress M-18M space craft were sunk in the ocean after it completed its resupply mission to the ISS. After delivering supplies including food, personal crew items, maintenance materials, water and gases it was then reloaded with rubbish and items crews no longer needed for its journey back to Earth.

The ISS was launched into space in 1998 and remains the largest artificial body in orbit. Weighing about 450,000kg, the day it is deorbited will be a spectacular show and an impressive addition to the haunting underwater museum of space.