Why NASA Is Seeking Plans for Commercial Space Stations

Why is NASA seeking plans for commercial space stations?

NASA wants to plan for continued US activity in low Earth orbit after the International Space Station, or ISS, retires. Low Earth orbit is the region relatively close to Earth where the ISS travels. NASA says a station could support research, technology work, crew training and preparation for missions to the Moon and Mars. ¹

The announcement describes a proposal process, not a completed station. NASA has issued a formal request asking industry to submit plans for future commercial stations. ¹

How might private space stations be used?

NASA lists research, technology development, crew training and preparation for exploration as possible uses. If commercial stations provide suitable facilities, those activities could continue in low Earth orbit after the ISS retires. ¹

NASA also says private stations could create business opportunities and let the agency put more resources toward future missions. The announcement does not spell out the design of a station or the services companies might sell. ¹

What is NASA asking companies to do?

NASA's final Request for Proposals invites companies to submit plans for the next generation of commercial space stations. Before issuing it, the agency sought industry views through two information requests in March and released a draft proposal request in July. It also held an industry event and meetings with interested companies. ¹

The available announcement does not provide the detailed requirements, a response deadline or a list of companies expected to submit plans. ¹

Are commercial space stations already operating?

The supplied list of commercial space stations reports that none are currently in operation, although commercial flights have carried people to the ISS. A privately operated station and a private flight to an existing station are different things. ³

So NASA's announcement concerns a possible future service, not an already available station or a named replacement for the ISS. ¹³

What is still unknown about NASA's plans?

The announcement explains NASA's broad aims, but the supplied sources do not say when a commercial station might start operating, which proposals NASA may select, or what a station would look like. They also do not explain how NASA and private customers would arrange access. ¹

The sources provide no date for the ISS's retirement. For now, the known step is that NASA has asked industry to propose ways to support future work in low Earth orbit. ¹