Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Sprawling but aging International Space Station.
Image credit: NASA

There are continual, creaky reminders that the International Space Station is showing its age.

Hissy-fit pressure leaks in the Russian segment. Loss of attitude control on two separate occasions in 2021. Toss in close encounters of the space debris kind having the huge, human-occupied facility performing duck and dodge maneuvers.

Orbital Reef complex.
Image credit: Blue Origin

Transition

To remain safe and sound for human occupants, the massive structure requires continuous maintenance, a flow of replacement parts, and upgrades to many of the station’s systems.

In 2021, NASA inked a trio of funded Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations, or CLD agreements. They are intended to support work on commercial space stations, outposts that can “transition” NASA from the ISS by decade’s end.

Go to my new Space.com story — After ISS: The private space station era is dawning – at:

https://www.space.com/private-space-stations-commercializing-low-earth-orbit