NASA has released a formal request for proposals to the commercial space industry for developing private space stations to succeed the International Space Station in low-Earth orbit as early as 2030. Companies like Axiom Space, Voyager Space, and Vast Space are expected to bid, with responses due December 8 and final decisions planned for April. NASA plans to select two or more contractors, with phase 1 winners guaranteed at least $100 million.
Background
The International Space Station is scheduled for deorbit around 2030, creating a need for successor platforms in low-Earth orbit for scientific research and crew training en route to Moon and Mars missions.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- Oct 10, 2026 at 05:34 AM
- Score
- 8.0 / 10