Congress pushes NASA to accelerate private space stations as ISS life extends

Congressional NASA Authorization legislation extends the ISS to 2032 and mandates a rapid push toward private space stations: within 60 days NASA must publish requirements for commercial stations, within 90 days issue the final RFPs, and within 180 days sign contracts with two or more providers. Companies like Axiom Space and Vast welcome the clarity, aiming for a continuous human presence in low-Earth orbit by around 2030–2032. The act also ties de-orbit timing to when a commercial LEO destination reaches initial operating capability, signaling a clear pivot from the ISS to private platforms while international partners must still approve the extension.