As the world prepares to say farewell to the International Space Station, questions are mounting about the future of science, research, discovery, innovation and sustained human presence in low-Earth orbit. With the station set to retire by the end of 2030 and no operational successor yet in place, space agencies, private companies and researchers alike face a critical juncture: How can the global community maintain momentum in space-based exploration and experimentation without an active platform in orbit?
The answer may lie in a new generation of commercial space stations now under development. These platforms aim to ensure continuity in low-Earth orbit by supporting government, academic and industry-led missions, preserving vital scientific and technological capabilities and unlocking new opportunities.
This includes maintaining continuity for critical national security research conducted by U.S. defense organizations such as the Space Test Program (STP), Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). These programs rely on uninterrupted orbital platforms to support advanced materials testing and mission-critical innovation.
A Proven Platform, a Narrowing Window
Launched in 1998 as a collaborative effort among the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Russian State Corporation for Space Activities (Roscosmos), European Space Agency (ESA), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Canadian Space Agency (CSA), the International Space Station has hosted more than 270 astronauts from 22 countries. It has served as a proof of what is possible when nations collaborate to advance human presence and scientific discovery in orbit.
But the station was never designed to operate indefinitely. While the United States and its international partners plan to continue operations through 2030, that timeline is subject to change. Given the technical complexity, regulatory requirements and lead times required to develop and launch a new platform, urgency is paramount.
The Risks of a Lapse in Orbit
Microgravity remains a uniquely valuable research environment. It enables experiments that are impossible to replicate on Earth, including larger and higher quality protein crystallization, 3-D cell and tissue growth, and near perfect crystal growth and thinner layering for semiconductor chip manufacturing. A prolonged gap in access to low-Earth orbit would jeopardize years of momentum in biopharmaceuticals, semiconductor chips and many more areas. It would disrupt not only academic and government research programs but also the growing number of commercial R&D efforts that rely on orbital conditions.
Beyond science, the risk is economic. The global space economy is projected to reach $1 trillion or more by 2040, fueled in part by advances in in-space manufacturing, life sciences and data infrastructure. If U.S.-based researchers and companies lose continuous access to orbit, other nations and competitors may fill the void. And that could mean missed opportunities for American innovation, investment and job growth.
From Government to Commercial Platforms
To ensure continuity in low-Earth orbit, NASA is pursuing a transition from a government-operated research station to commercially owned and operated platforms. Through the Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations (CLD) program, the agency is supporting the development of next-generation stations that will carry forward critical scientific and operational capabilities.
These new stations are being designed to serve a broader range of users, including governments, academia, private research institutions and commercial partners. They reflect a shift toward more agile, user-driven models and a growing recognition of the role space can play in solving challenges on Earth.
A Diverse Ecosystem of Solutions
Multiple commercial station concepts are now in development. Among them is Starlab, a joint venture backed by Voyager Technologies, Airbus, Mitsubishi Corporation and MDA Space. With a spacious 387-cubic-meters of internal volume designed to support four astronauts continuously and up to eight for short durations, Starlab reflects a commitment to continuity in orbit.
Starlab’s proposed design represents the next generation of orbital stations. Rather than relying on piecemeal assembly in space, it is engineered to launch fully integrated on a single flight — an approach that reduces complexity and accelerates operational readiness.
Its advanced features include AI-powered operations, predictive maintenance tools, a robotic arm, flexible docking capabilities and extensive internal and external research platforms. Starlab’s approach prioritizes research, discovery and sustained human presence in orbit. Its global network of partners and science parks extends research capabilities in the U.S., Europe and Japan.
In addition to supporting life sciences and commercial R&D, Starlab’s external and internal research platforms are designed to serve the evolving needs of national defense agencies. This ensures continuity for Department of Defense experiments in microgravity, from materials development to in-space manufacturing with strategic applications.
Starlab is committed to making microgravity research more accessible and impactful. This includes enabling advancements in drug development, cancer research and materials science, as well as ensuring a seamless transition of current research programs from the International Space Station to a new generation of commercial platforms.
Other commercial projects such as Orbital Reef, Vast and Axiom Station bring different architectures and operating models. This diversity is essential to building a resilient and globally competitive commercial low-Earth orbit economy.
Global Collaboration Still Key
As the world prepares for a new era in space, one lesson from the International Space Station remains clear: collaboration is essential.
Led by the United States, the International Space Station brought together space agencies from around the world to operate the largest and most sophisticated platform ever built in orbit. It proved that even amid geopolitical tensions, space could serve as a domain for peaceful cooperation and shared progress.
That principle will be even more important in the post-International Space Station era. As commercial and national interests converge in low-Earth orbit, sustained U.S. leadership — combined with international coordination, shared standards and mutual trust — will be critical to ensuring space remains a place of scientific discovery and collective benefit.
A Narrow Window
The next few years are critical. If the transition from the International Space Station to commercial stations is not carefully managed, the world could face a gap in space access that sets back decades of progress. Commercial stations like Starlab are not just successors to the International Space Station but critical to local and national economic growth and essential to the United States and its allies achieving their vision for the Moon and Mars.
With planning, proper investment and international cooperation, we can close the gap created by the retirement of the International Space Station. Because in space, as on Earth, continuity matters.
