NASA's Plan to Address the Impending Gap in Human Space Station Missions

NASA is facing the challenge of a potential gap in human space missions as the International Space Station (ISS) approaches its retirement. The space agency's private partners are working on building space stations to replace the ISS, but there is uncertainty about whether they will be ready in time. NASA is considering various options to maintain its presence in low Earth orbit, including extending the lifespan of the ISS or relying on short trips to low Earth orbit on SpaceX's crew Dragon and Boeing's Starliner. The agency is also at risk of budget cuts that could affect funding for commercial space station designs. Maintaining a presence in low Earth orbit is crucial for NASA's future missions to the Moon and Mars, as the ISS enables critical research on human spaceflight.