NASA shakes up program for ISS replacement
16 days ago
- #Space Stations
- #NASA
- #Commercial Space
- A modified Dragon spacecraft will push the International Space Station (ISS) out of orbit in about five years, leading to its descent into the Pacific Ocean.
- China's Tiangong Space Station will remain operational, while NASA risks losing its foothold in low-Earth orbit.
- NASA awarded $500 million to four companies years ago to develop commercial space stations, but progress has been slow.
- Concerns exist about whether replacement stations will be ready before the ISS is decommissioned.
- NASA Acting Administrator Sean Duffy signed a new directive to address these concerns, emphasizing the need for a modified strategy.
- The previous plan involved a competition to select one or two companies for station assembly, but budget shortfalls of up to $4 billion have been identified.
- The president's budget request includes $272.3 million for fiscal year 2026 and $2.1 billion over five years for new commercial space stations.
- Due to these shortcomings, NASA is making substantial changes to the Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations Program.