NASA creates a strategy for human presence in space.

This week, NASA outlined its strategy for maintaining a human presence in space. The document emphasizes the importance of maintaining the ability to remain in orbit long after the International Space Station is retired.

“NASA’s Low Earth Orbit Low Gravity Strategy will lead the agency towards the next generation of continued human presence in orbit. Helps increase economic growth. and maintain international cooperation,” the document states.

The commitment comes amid questions about whether the new space station will be ready to launch. With the Trump administration’s efforts to reduce spending through the Department of Government Efficiency, So there is concern that NASA may face cost cuts.

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“Like everyone has to make hard decisions when on a tight budget. We made some choices last year, in fact, to reduce programs or cancel them all together. to ensure we stay focused on our top priorities,” said NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy.

Commercial space company Voyager is working on one of the space stations that could replace the International Space Station when it leaves orbit in 2030. The company praises NASA’s strategy for keeping humans in space.

Rendering showing the Voyager spacecraft. Voyager is working on a space station that could replace the International Space Station. which is expected to be phased out in 2030 (Space probe)

“We need that commitment because we have investors asking, ‘Is the United States committed?’” said Voyager Space Station and International President Jeffrey Manber.

President Reagan initiated the first attempt to place humans in space in permanent residence. He also warned of the need for private partnerships.

“America is always greatest when we dare to be great. We can pursue greatness,” said Reagan during his State of the Union address in 1984. “The space transportation market may well exceed our ability to develop it.”

Jeffrey Manber, President of Voyager Space International and Space Station, praised NASA’s commitment to researching ways to sustain human presence in space. (Press Association)

The first part of the ISS was launched in 1998. Since then, There are more than 28 people from 23 countries. For 24 years, humans have continuously occupied the ISS.

The Trump administration issued a National Space Policy in 2020 that called for maintaining “The continued presence of humans in Earth orbit” and also emphasized the need to transition to commercial platforms. The Biden administration is maintaining that policy.

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“Let’s say we don’t have a commercial station available. Technically We can keep the space station running. But the idea is to fly until 2030 and deorbit in 2031,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in June.

In the past few months There is a question as to whether this policy will be maintained.

A rendering shows the Voyager Space probe floating in orbit above Earth. (Space probe)

“I just want to address the elephant in the room for a moment. Continuing human existence What does that mean? Is it a continuous heartbeat or a continuous ability? While we initially hoped this would happen through the process, We are still having conversations about that and understanding it,” Melroy said at the meeting. International Astronautical Congress in October

NASA’s final strategy takes into account concerns from commercial and international partners about the loss of the ISS if there is no commercial station ready to go.

“Nearly all of our industry partners agree. Continuous presence is a continuous heartbeat. And that’s what we stand for,” Melroy said. is leadership. Today, the United States is the leader in human spaceflight. The only space station that will be in orbit when the ISS deorbits, if we don’t bring it to a commercial destination in time, will be China’s space station. And we want to remain and remain the partner of choice for our industry and our goals for NASA.”

Three companies, including Voyager It is working with NASA to develop a commercial space station. Axiom signs deal with NASA In 2020, the agency awarded contracts to Nanoracks, which is now part of Voyager Space, and Blue Origin in 2021.

A rendering shows the Voyager Space probe in the distance. is moving across the face of the moon (Space probe)

“We face some challenges. Let’s be honest, the budget cap that was cut between the White House and Congress for fiscal years (2024 and 2025) leaves us with very little investment. So what do we do? Invest with our commercial partners to develop I think we can still make it happen before the end of 2030 to build a commercial space station and operate so that we have The continuous heartbeat of an American astronaut in orbit,” Melroy said.

Voyager says it is not lagging behind in the development process and still plans to launch the Enterprise space station in 2028.

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“We are not asking for more money. we are moving forward We are ready to replace the International Space Station,” Manber said.Everyone knows about SpaceX.But there are hundreds of companies creating the space economy. And if we lose permanent status You lose that supply chain.”

Additional funding has been allocated to all three companies since the space station contract was first awarded. A second round of funding could be important for some projects. NASA could also fund new space station proposals. One such opportunity is Long Beach. The vast expanses of California The company recently released a concept for its Haven module, with plans to launch Haven-1 next year.

“We strongly think that competition is important. This is a development project. It’s challenging. Building a space station is difficult. We are asking our trade partners to step up and take action themselves with our help. We really think it It is important that we provide as many options as possible to see which one will be best when we actually get there,” Melroy said.