NASA launches competition to develop private space stations to replace ISS by 2030

NASA has released a request for proposals for privately operated space stations that could replace the International Space Station as early as 2030, aiming to maintain U.S. presence in low-Earth orbit through commercial ownership. The agency plans to select at least two contractors in April 2027, each guaranteed a minimum of $100 million, with services to be purchased once stations are operational.

Why it matters. This shift affects NASA’s operational model, U.S. aerospace industry, and international research partners by transitioning from government-owned to commercially operated orbital infrastructure.