NASA Partners Are Developing a Post-ISS Space Ecosystem

Space agency provides updates on nine of its commercial partners developing the destinations and technology that will maintain a human presence on orbit beyond this decade.

Friday, November 29, 2024 at 04:34 PM ET

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The International Space Station (ISS) is the lone U.S. commercial space station orbiting the Earth—but by the end of the decade, low-Earth orbit will be more crowded. [Courtesy: NASA]

Key Takeaways:

NASA is preparing for the International Space Station's (ISS) retirement by the end of the decade by fostering a robust commercial ecosystem to maintain human presence in low-Earth orbit (LEO).
The agency is collaborating with nine commercial partners under various initiatives to develop the next generation of LEO infrastructure and services.
These projects include multiple commercial space stations (e.g., Orbital Reef, Starlab, Haven-1), advanced transportation systems like SpaceX's Starship, and innovative technologies for orbital manufacturing and reusable cargo return.
Significant progress has been reported across these diverse programs, with some commercial systems anticipated to launch as early as next year, ensuring continuous orbital activity beyond the ISS.

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At the end of the decade, NASA and SpaceX will destroy the International Space Station (ISS) and bring the pieces crashing back to Earth. But the space agency has a plan to maintain a human presence in low-Earth orbit (LEO) beyond the orbital laboratory’s retirement.

NASA this week provided updates on nine of its commercial partners, which are developing technology from microgravity space stations to the vehicles that will build, service, and fly to them. Some of these NASA-backed systems could launch as early as next year, while others will deploy toward the end of the decade.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.