NASA plans to retire the International Space Station by 2030, opting to procure services from private orbital stations rather than building a new government-owned laboratory. The agency aims to focus resources on lunar and Martian exploration while allowing commercial operators to serve multiple clients, including research organizations and international agencies.
On October 9, 2026, NASA released the final requirements for its new commercial space station competition. Proposals are due by December 8, 2026, with initial contracts expected to be awarded in the spring of 2027. The agency intends to select at least two companies to develop orbital platforms, with the possibility of providing transportation for the first four missions.
Axiom Space is developing a station that will initially assemble near the ISS, with the power and service module PPTM targeted for a 2028 launch. Vast is working on the Haven-1 station, now scheduled for the first quarter of 2027, followed by the larger Haven-2, which is planned for completion by 2032 with a capacity for 12 people.
The Starlab project, led by a consortium including Voyager, Airbus, and Mitsubishi, aims to launch a fully integrated station in a single flight using Starship. Meanwhile, Blue Origin and Sierra Space are developing the Orbital Reef, a multi-purpose business park, though specific configuration details and launch timelines remain less defined.
The U.S. Government Accountability Office warned in June 2026 of a potential gap between the retirement of the ISS and the operational readiness of commercial replacements. NASA plans to assess the transition progress in 2027 to determine if the ISS program requires an extension, which would involve additional funding and logistics.
