<2> Congress Extends ISS, Tells NASA To Get Moving On Private Space Stations
<3> Senate Authorization Bill Extends ISS Lifespan to 2032
The International Space Station’s (ISS) lifespan has been extended from 2030 to 2032 by a recently-revised Senate authorization bill, co-sponsored by Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz. This legislation pushes NASA to accelerate plans for commercial space stations to replace the ISS. According to Ars Technica’s Eric Berger, the bill mandates the following within specified periods of passage of the law:
– Within 60 days, publicly release the requirements for commercial space stations in low-Earth orbit
– Within 90 days, release the final “request for proposals” to solicit industry responses
– Within 180 days, enter into contracts with “two or more” commercial providers for such stations
<3> Private Companies Finalize Designs for Space Stations
Several private companies, including Axiom Space, Blue Origin, Vast, and Voyager, are finalizing designs for space stations. These companies have expressed a desire for clarity from NASA on how long the space agency would like its astronauts to stay on board, the types of scientific equipment needed, and much more. These are known as “requirements” in