NASA Seeks Proposals for More Private Astronaut Missions

Space agency so far has contracted Axiom Space for five private astronaut missions to the International Space Station.

Jack Daleo

Thursday, April 03, 2025 at 04:35 PM ET

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Jack Daleo

NASA is offering new private astronaut missions to the International Space Station ahead of the laboratory’s planned retirement at the end of the decade. [Courtesy: NASA]

Key Takeaways:

NASA is seeking proposals for two new private astronaut missions to the International Space Station (ISS), targeted for launch between May 2026 and mid-2027, following Axiom Space's successful and upcoming missions.
This expansion is part of NASA's broader strategy to foster a commercial low-Earth orbit (LEO) economy, enabling private companies to gain experience, refine capabilities, and develop future commercial space stations to replace the ISS by the end of the decade.
Proposed missions must be brokered by a U.S. entity, use U.S. transportation spacecraft, be limited to four crewmembers, and last 14 days, with restrictions on activities like spacewalks or extensive robotic system use.

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As NASA contractor Axiom Space gears up for its fourth private mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in as many years, the space agency is opening more opportunities for commercial firms to fly to the orbital laboratory.

NASA on Wednesday said it is seeking proposals for two new private astronaut missions to the space station, targeted to launch between May 2026 and mid-2027. These would be the fifth and sixth such flights coordinated by NASA following Axiom’s three completed missions and Ax-4, scheduled to launch no earlier than May. Applicants have until May 30 to submit their proposals.