Science Friday What Will Replace The International Space Station?
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Apr 10, 2025 
Lauren Grush, a space reporter at Bloomberg News specializing in the commercial space industry, discusses the decommissioning of the International Space Station by 2030. She explores NASA’s plans to collaborate with private companies like Axiom Space and Blue Origin for future space stations, highlighting the shifts in research and tourism. Grush shares insights from her visit to Vast, a contender in this transformation, revealing its innovative approach tied to cryptocurrency and the competition's push towards a new era of space exploration.
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ISS Decommissioning
- NASA plans to deorbit the ISS into the atmosphere by the end of 2030, after 30 years of service.
- Parts may survive re-entry, so NASA is planning a controlled deorbit over an uninhabited ocean area.
ISS Utility and Maintenance
- The ISS is still useful for research, especially on microgravity's effects.
- However, it requires extensive maintenance, taking up astronauts' time and resources.
Privatization of Low Earth Orbit
- NASA is transitioning control of low Earth orbit activities to private companies.
- Private companies now handle cargo and crew transport, and NASA aims to extend this to space stations.
