Feed: Slashdot
Feed Link: https://slashdot.org/
---

Title: NASA Seeks Proposals for Two More Private Astronaut Space Station
Visits

Link: https://science.slashdot.org/story/25/04/05/1...

This week NASA "issued a solicitation for the next two private astronaut
missions to the International Space Station," reports Space News. Scheduled
after May of 2026 and then mid-2027, "These will be the fifth and sixth such
missions to the ISS, part of a broader low Earth orbit commercialization
effort by NASA with the ultimate goal of replacing the International Space
Station with one or more commercial stations." NASA's Space Station program
manager calls the missions "a key part" of helping industry partners "gain
the experience needed to train and manage crews, conduct research, and
develop future destinations." In short, they see the missions "providing
companies with hands-on opportunities to refine their capabilities and build
partnerships that will shape the future of low Earth orbit." [NASA's call for
proposals] offers an opportunity to have future missions commanded by someone
other than a former NASA astronaut. While companies must propose a commander
who meets current requirements, it can also propose an alternate commander
who is a former astronaut from the Canadian Space Agency, European Space
Agency or Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency with similar ISS experience
requirements... ["Broadening of this requirement is not guaranteed," NASA
warns.] That could allow some former astronauts already working with
commercial spaceflight companies an opportunity to command private astronaut
missions. Axiom Space, for example, announced in July 2024 that former ESA
astronaut Tim Peake had joined its astronaut team. That came after Axiom and
the U.K. Space Agency signed a memorandum of understanding in October 2023 to
study the feasibility of a private astronaut mission crewed exclusively by
U.K. astronauts. So far Axiom Space has been awarded all four private
astronaut missions, according to the article, "flying one mission each in
2022, 2023 and 2024. Its next mission, Ax-4, is scheduled for no earlier than
May." But "While Axiom has little or no competition for previous PAM awards,
it will likely face stiffer competition this time. Vast, a company also
planning to develop commercial space stations, has previously stated its
intent to submit proposals..."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

---
VRSS v2.1.180528