NSS pushes NASA to move faster on commercial space stations

By AI, Created 7:06 PM UTC, June 02, 2026, /AGP/ – The National Space Society says NASA made the right call by dropping a government-built core module plan for the Commercial LEO Destinations program. The group now wants NASA to release a formal request for proposals quickly and commit to flying astronauts on commercial stations as soon as they are ready.

Why it matters: - The Commercial LEO Destinations program is meant to replace the International Space Station with privately run orbital stations. - The transition matters because the ISS is targeted for de-orbit in the early 2030s. - NSS says a delay could create a gap in U.S. human presence in low-Earth orbit. - The group also wants NASA to become a customer in a commercial LEO market, not the builder of the next station.

What happened: - The National Space Society on June 2 praised NASA’s decision to withdraw a proposed government-owned “core module” for the CLD program. - NASA press secretary Bethany Stevens said June 1 that the agency was abandoning the idea, which NASA had first floated at its March “Ignition” event. - NASA had sought industry feedback through a request for information before dropping the proposal. - NSS is urging NASA to release a formal Request for Proposals for CLD Phase 2 without delay.

The details: - NSS submitted an extensive RFI response opposing the core module plan. - NSS also produced an independent market analysis of the low-Earth orbit economy to argue that a sustainable commercial market is viable. - The organization said it has also engaged Congress directly on CLD and its role in building an orbital economy. - Dale Skran, NSS COO/SVP, said the organization worked with policymakers and Congress to show the strength of a fully commercial strategy. - Grant Henriksen said companies including Axiom, Vast and Starlab have spent years and more than $1 billion developing hardware and signing customers. - The NSS wants NASA to explicitly commit to using commercial stations as soon as they are operationally ready. - The NSS also wants Congress and NASA to ensure no gap between ISS retirement and commercial station activation. - The group says CLD should be fully funded at levels comparable to commercial crew. - NSS founder information in the release says the group was founded in 1987 through a merger of the National Space Institute and the L5 Society. - The release links to the organization’s website at nss.org.

Between the lines: - NSS is presenting NASA’s reversal as proof that industry feedback can change federal space plans. - The group is also trying to lock in a policy outcome now, before station development and ISS retirement timelines narrow NASA’s options. - The release frames the commercial space station effort as a test of whether NASA can shift from operator to anchor tenant.

What’s next: - NASA is expected to move toward the CLD Phase 2 RFP. - NSS will keep pressing NASA and Congress for an explicit commitment to commercial stations and uninterrupted U.S. presence in orbit. - The agency’s next decisions will shape whether commercial stations are ready before the ISS comes down in the early 2030s.

The bottom line: - NSS sees NASA’s reversal as a turning point, but says the real test is whether the agency now moves quickly enough to sustain a fully commercial future in low-Earth orbit.