NASA seeks commercial successors to the ISS amid launch setbacks
NASA issued a request for proposals in October for commercial space stations to follow the International Space Station. The move comes as several launch providers face delays: ULA's Vulcan rocket has been grounded since February and Blue Origin's New Glenn since April. SpaceX stopped accepting new rideshare bookings beyond late 2028 in July. Stoke Space, meanwhile, has raised $1 billion and targets an initial launch in 2027. Governments spent roughly $141 billion on space in 2024, according to the Space Foundation.
Key facts
- The Space Foundation put 2024 government space spending at roughly $141 billion.
- Stoke Space's $1 billion raise is tied to a launch target in 2027.
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Why it matters
The proposals shape which companies will host crewed research in low Earth orbit after the ISS.
What changed
First published from Fortune