Phil McAlister

Phil McAlister, former Director of NASA’s Commercial Space Division, discusses the challenges facing NASA's human spaceflight budget and the future of commercial LEO destinations. He reveals how geopolitical events may have altered funding opportunities and explains NASA leadership's hesitance to retire the ISS. McAlister estimates that shifting to commercial stations could cut NASA's costs significantly. With budget pressures mounting, he warns that NASA might face serious operational challenges if funding issues persist.