NASA has modified existing agreements with two commercial companies, Blue Origin and Nanoracks, to help accelerate the development of privately owned and operated space stations. These destinations will provide a transition once the International Space Station (ISS) is retired in 2030.
The two companies, which already had funded Space Act Agreements with NASA, will receive additional funding and new technical milestones under the updated agreements. Blue Origin will get an extra $42 million, bringing its total award to $172 million, while Nanoracks receives $57.5 million more, increasing its award to $217.5 million.
The additional milestones focus on critical subsystem reviews, risk reduction testing, and technology demonstrations related to environmental control, life support systems, rendezvous, docking, and other key areas. The extra funding and focused milestones will help Blue Origin and Nanoracks mature their space station designs on an accelerated timeline.
NASA is facilitating the development of these commercial destinations as part of its goal to transition human spaceflight operations in low Earth orbit to the private sector. The transition will allow NASA to purchase services from commercial providers and focus its resources on exploration missions to the Moon and Mars.
Blue Origin is developing a space station concept called Orbital Reef alongside partners Sierra Space and Boeing. Nanoracks, along with Voyager Space and Lockheed Martin, is working on a concept called Starlab. Both are targeting initial launches in the late 2020s to establish their stations in orbit.
The commercial space stations will need to meet NASA’s standards for safety and technical capabilities to host agency astronauts and support NASA research. The companies will provide regular progress reports to NASA as they achieve their milestones over the next few years.
By providing funding and setting defined milestones along the way, NASA aims to ensure a smooth transition from the ISS to commercial destinations later this decade. The approach will help foster a thriving economy in low Earth orbit as NASA focuses its efforts on pushing farther into deep space.
The ISS has hosted a continuous human presence in orbit for over 20 years. While productive, the aging station is becoming more challenging to maintain. The commercial space stations will offer modern, cost-effective alternatives that can meet both NASA’s needs as well as those of other government agencies and private companies in the future.
