NASA is working with at least three companies that are designing space stations to replace the International Space Station before it deorbits in 2031.
“NASA can use those resources in our exploration of the skies, back to the moon and to Mars. Then we can rent space on a commercial space station to do our research, to prepare our astronauts for longer space flights.” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “We’ve given them money so they can start developing space stations.”
The cost to the US government is a factor, but Nelson believes the investment will pay off.
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“If you don’t do research and you don’t do development, R and D, then you’re consuming or eating your corn seed and you don’t have what you need to plant a crop to supply everything you want. The future is R and D that has brought us to the level of sophistication that we enjoy,” Nelson said.
In this handout provided by NASA, the International Space Station is seen from NASA’s spacecraft Endeavour. NASA is working with at least three companies that are designing space stations to replace the International Space Station before it deorbits in 2031. (NASA via Getty Images)
Axiom Space is a company that is building a next-generation space station. It is creating pods that will first attach to the current International Space Station. The company is sending private astronauts to the International Space Station to prepare for the addition of the first module, which is expected to launch in 2026.
“These private astronauts stay on the space station for a week or two weeks and do science stuff. NASA gets involved when they come to the station and they have to meet rigorous standards. They have to follow the rules with NASA, and they have to have, as their private astronaut mission commander, a former NASA astronaut that we approve of,” Nelson said.
When the International Space Station is decommissioned, the Axiom Station will detach and become a self-sustaining orbital platform.
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In this handout photo provided by NASA, astronaut Rick Mastracchio, STS-118 mission specialist, participates in the mission’s third scheduled extravehicular activity session on the International Space Station. When the space station is decommissioned, the Axiom Station will detach and become a self-sustaining orbital platform. (NASA via Getty Images)
Blue Origin is also building a space station. Its Orbital Reef will be a mixed-use destination for researchers, entrepreneurs and tourists. Nelson expects space tourism to expand as the space footprint grows larger.
“There have been private SpaceX Dragon spacecraft taking private individuals unrelated to NASA into space. Now, of course, it is someone who is very wealthy who can afford to pay for it. There have been and will be many such in the future,” said Nelson.
Voyager’s Starlab will be sent into orbit as a unit.
“It will be, we believe, the largest piece of equipment launched by mankind into space,” said Voyager Space Station and International Space Station President Jeffrey Manber.
In this brochure image provided by the European Space Agency and NASA, the International Space Station is seen orbiting Earth. NASA is using private companies to help build the first lunar space station. (Paolo Nespoli – ESA/NASA via Getty Images)
Voyager plans to launch in 2028. It will have a ready-to-go laboratory on board that will be able to accommodate more than 400 experiments each year.
“That area known as Low Earth Orbit has become commercial. There are dozens and dozens of companies, there will be privately owned space stations, every week there will be privately launched rockets. It’s a very exciting time,” Manber said.
NASA is also using private companies to help build the first lunar space station. Maxar and Northrop Grumman are designing the two modules. SpaceX will launch the lunar port station into orbit no sooner than 2025. Operations could begin in 2028.
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“As the future unfolds, as we go out, we will send our astronauts, star mariners sailing a cosmic sea to the distant shores of space,” Nelson said. “That’s bound to excite anyone. And I get to do it on a daily basis.”