When the International Space Station (ISS) reaches the end of its operational life around 2030, it probably will not be replaced by a single government-owned station. Instead, NASA plans to transition to multiple commercially owned and operated space stations in low-Earth orbit, with NASA becoming one customer alongside private companies, researchers, international partners, and potentially private astronauts.
Several commercial stations are under development, including concepts from Axiom Space, Starlab, Blue Origin and its partners, and Vast, although which stations ultimately become operational is still being determined.
These newer stations could provide laboratories for microgravity research, testing of technologies for future Moon and Mars missions, manufacturing materials and medicines in space, astronaut training, and commercial activities that were difficult to support aboard the ISS.
NASA hopes that private ownership will also allow it to purchase only the orbital services it needs while concentrating more of its resources on deep-space exploration. After its mission ends, the enormous ISS will be deliberately brought out of orbit in a controlled reentry over a remote ocean region, using a specially developed U.S. Deorbit Vehicle.
The retirement of the ISS could mark the beginning of a new era in which several smaller, specialized space stations form the first commercial neighborhoods in space.
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