[nine_k]

Something like Canadarm?

I suppose ISS is being decommissioned in a big part because the big hardware there is approaching / has approached the end of its practical life. The metal has accumulated fatigue here and there. The solar panels are heavy and inefficient, compared to more modern developments, except for the newest array mounted in 2021.

Maybe some of the newest hardware could be transferred to a lower orbit for cheaper than bringing up brand new hardware from Earth.

The thing is that the newest ISS modules, barely 4 years old, are Russian (Nauka + Prichal); the newest module before that is the Japanese science module from 2008. It could probably be still reused, it's barely 16 years old %)

[prox]

Or just ship of Theseus it? Replace what needs replacement into he new format?

[nine_k]

Likely the only things that would remain then would be the interfaces and standards. On one hand, these are time-tested standards. OTOH perpetuating them would miss an opportunity to evolve and upgrade, fixing some of the known issues.

[zardo]

Isn't that happening anyway? New stations will be designed to interface with current spacecraft, that are designed to interface with current space stations.

[psd1]

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