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US Space Stations: NASA Must Choose Soon!
6 Feb
Summary
- Two US space startups urge NASA to select a station replacement soon.
- NASA plans to retire the International Space Station in 2030.
- Companies warn against allowing a gap in human space presence.
As the International Space Station (ISS) faces retirement in 2030, two American space startups, Vast Space and Axiom Space, are pressing policymakers to accelerate the selection of a commercial replacement. Executives highlighted the urgency, noting that time is "getting a little short" for NASA's "Commercial Destinations" program.
Both companies, despite facing their own schedule slips, assert they can deliver a functional station by 2030. Axiom Space is adopting a modular approach, initially attaching its station to the ISS, while Vast Space is pursuing a vertically integrated strategy with its Haven-1 design.
Competitors Blue Origin (Orbital Reef) and Airbus/Voyager (Starlab) are also vying for NASA contracts. The CEOs stressed the strategic importance of maintaining a continuous human presence in low Earth orbit, drawing parallels to past gaps in US space capabilities.
Concerns about ceding low Earth orbit to China were also voiced. The companies expressed confidence in future commercial demand for microgravity research and manufacturing, emphasizing that a sustained human presence is vital for technological advancement and national interests.
