Lawmakers Warned of International Space Station Transition Gap

Private companies fear losing to China in a move toward a commercial space economy.

Wednesday, February 14, 2024 at 07:45 PM ET

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The International Space Station is expected to be in use through 2030, after which it will be deorbited. [Courtesy: NASA/Thomas Pesquet]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. risks losing its low-Earth orbit (LEO) leadership to China if the transition to a commercial space economy, following the ISS's 2030 retirement, is not effectively managed and funded.
A critical lack of congressional funding for the ISS deorbit vehicle and commercial space station development threatens a continuous U.S. human presence in LEO and deters vital private investment.
Proposed bifurcated regulatory oversight for commercial space activities is seen as a significant obstacle, potentially causing delays and hindering the establishment of a robust commercial LEO market.

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The U.S. is at risk of losing its leadership role to China in low-Earth orbit (LEO) space activities if it fails to manage the transition to a commercial space economy, according to space station developers.

At a U.S. House Science, Space, and Technology subcommittee hearing on Wednesday in Washington, D.C., lawmakers were warned about there being no clear path toward ensuring that NASA’s aging International Space Station (ISS) can be deorbited after 2030—its designated end-of-life year.