This week, NASA finalized its sustainability strategy Human presence in space. The document stressed the importance of maintaining the ability to remain in orbit for long periods after the retirement of the International Space Station.
“NASA's low-Earth orbit microgravity strategy will guide the agency toward the next generation of sustained human presence in orbit, enable greater economic growth, and sustain international partnerships,” the document stated.
This commitment comes amid questions about whether the new space stations are ready for launch. And with the incoming Trump administration's efforts to cut spending through the Department of Government Efficiency, there are also concerns NASA may face cuts.
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“Just as everyone has to make tough decisions when on a budget, we've made some choices over the past year, in fact, to scale back or eliminate programs all together to ensure we're focusing on our highest priorities.” NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Milroy said:
Commercial space company Voyager is working on one of the space stations that could replace the International Space Station International Space Station When it deorbits in 2030. The company praised NASA's strategy to keep humans in space.
The display shows the Voyager spacecraft. Voyager is working on one of the space stations that could replace the International Space Station, which is expected to retire in 2030. (Voyager Space)
“We need this commitment because our investors are saying: 'Is the United States committed?'” said Jeffrey Manber, Voyager's president of international and space stations.
President Reagan first launched efforts to keep humans in space at permanent residence. As warned The need for special partnerships.
“America has always been greater when we dare to be great,” Reagan said during his 1984 State of the Union address. “We can achieve greatness.” “The space transportation market could exceed our ability to develop it.”
Jeffrey Manber, head of international and space stations at Voyager Space, praised NASA's commitment to researching how to sustain a human presence in space. (Associated Press)
The first part of the International Space Station was launched in 1998. Since then, the station has hosted more than 28 people from 23 countries. For 24 years, humans have continuously occupied the International Space Station.
The Trump administration issued a National Space Policy in 2020 that called for maintaining a “continuous human presence in Earth orbit” and also stressed the need to transition to commercial platforms. The Biden administration maintained this policy.
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“Suppose we didn't have commercial stations ready to go. Technically, we could keep the space station going, but the idea was to fly it until 2030 and deorbit it in 2031.” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson he said in June.
In recent months, there have been questions about whether this policy will be maintained.
The display shows the Voyager spacecraft floating in orbit above Earth. (Voyager Space)
“I just want to talk about the elephant in the room for a moment, the continuous human presence. What does that mean? Is it a continuous heartbeat or a continuous capability? While we initially hoped that this would emerge from this process,” Milroy said at the International Astronautical Congress in October: “We are still having conversations about it and understanding it.”
NASA's final strategy took into account concerns from commercial and international partners about what losing the International Space Station would mean without a commercial station ready for launch.
“Almost all of our industry partners have agreed that a constant presence is a constant pulse. And that is where we stand,” Milroy said. “I think that continued presence is leadership. Today, the United States is leading human spaceflight. The only other space station that will be in orbit when the ISS deorbits, if we don't identify a commercial destination in time, will be the Chinese space station and we want to remain We remain the partner of choice for our industry and our goals for NASA.”
Three companies, including Voyager, are working with NASA to develop commercial space stations. Axiom has signed an agreement with NASA in 2020. The agency awarded contracts to Nanoracks, now part of Voyager Space, and Blue Origin in 2021.
The view shows the Voyager spacecraft from a distance, passing in front of the Moon. (Voyager Space)
“We've had some challenges, to be completely honest with you. The budget caps that were a deal that was worked out between the White House and Congress for the fiscal year (2024 and 2025) left us without a lot of investment. So what we're doing is we're co-investing with our partners “Commercial space station to do the development, and I think we can still achieve that before the end of 2030, to get a commercial space station up and running so we have a continuous connection to the astronauts,” Milroy said Americans in orbit.”
Voyager says it has not delayed development and still plans to launch its space station in 2028.
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“We are not asking for more money,” Manber said. “We are moving forward. We are ready to replace the International Space Station.” “Everyone knows SpaceXBut there are hundreds of companies that have created the space economy. “And if we lose our permanent presence, you lose that supply chain.”
Additional funds have been provided to the three companies since the initial contracts for the space station. The second round of funding may be crucial for some projects. NASA can also provide funding For proposals for a new space station. One possibility is Long Beach, the vast expanse of California. The company recently unveiled concepts for its Haven units. It plans to launch Haven-1 as soon as next year.
“We absolutely believe that competition is critical. This is a development project. It's difficult. It's been difficult to build the space station. We're asking our commercial partners to step up and do it themselves with some help from us. We think it's really important that we carry “As many options as we can moving forward to see which ones really work when we get there.”
