9 space stations of the future that will carry the baton once the International Space Station is deorbited

By Sean Blair

Published: Monday, 08 July 2024 at 07:03 AM

The International Space Station can’t last forever, but since its first occupation in 2000, there has always been a crew of astronauts living and working in space.

NASA has already announced it has selected SpaceX to build the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle to safely deorbit the Space Station around the year 2030, which means that soon the ISS will be no more.

So what will replace the International Space Station?

When the International Space Station is deorbited, human access to low Earth orbit should go on uninterrupted.

Various space stations are in development, starting with one already in flight.

Tiangong space station (China)

Artist’s impression of China’s Tiangong space station. Credit: Adrian Mann/Stocktrek Images/Getty Images

The three-module permanently crewed Tiangong is set to outlive the ISS. A space telescope module will eventually join it.

FEASIBILITY: In orbit since April 2021 and planned to last at least a decade, China hopes the station will be a new hub for international cooperation post-ISS.

Axiom space station (USA)

Artist's impression of the Axiom Space Station. Credit: Axiom — Artist’s impression of the Axiom Space Station. Credit: Axiom

This four-module commercial station will be used for in-space manufacturing, experimentation and tourism.

FEASIBILITY: Backed by a NASA Space Act Agreement (SAA), it’s due to be built while docked to the ISS. The first two modules have been manufactured.

Orbital Reef (USA)

Artist's impression of the Orbital Reef Space Station. Credit: Blue Origin — Artist’s impression of the Orbital Reef Space Station. Credit: Blue Origin

Led by Blue Origin and Sierra Space, this ‘business park in space’ is based on an expandable primary module.

FEASIBILITY: Backed by a NASA SAA, to be launched by Blue Origin’s New Glenn and served by Sierra Space’s Dreamchaser spaceplane (both unflown).

Starlab (USA)

Artist's impression of the Starlab space station. Credit: Starlab — Artist’s impression of the Starlab space station. Credit: Starlab

Led by Nanoracks, Voyager Space and Lockheed Martin, a commercial station based around an inflatable main module and attached ‘science park’.

FEASIBILITY: Backed by a NASA SAA. Nanoracks’ Bishop airlock was the first commercial addition to the ISS. Due 2028.

Northrup Grumman station (USA)

Artist's impression of the Northrop Grumman space station — Artist’s impression of the Northrop Grumman space station

A three-module commercial station serving multiple sectors including microgravity research, in-space manufacturing and space tourism.

FEASIBILITY: Backed by a NASA SAA, modules are to be based on the successful Cygnus craft. Stage 1 to launch late 2028.

ISRO Space Station (India)

Model of the ISRO space station. Credit: Pallava Bagla/Corbis via Getty Images

Intended for 15–20-day stays, this single-module station at 400km will be serviced by crewed Gaganyaan spacecraft.

FEASIBILITY: Russia is providing technical assistance, but Gaganyaan has yet to fly. The space station is planned for the mid 2030s.

Airbus LOOP (Europe)

Artist's impression showing the decks of the Airbus LOOP space station — Artist’s impression showing the decks of the Airbus LOOP space station

An 8m-diameter commercial single-module station with a spacious three-level design for long stays. Suitable for launch by Elon Musk’s Starship.

FEASIBILITY: Based on strong European technical heritage, but the project has no customer announced as yet.

Vast space station (USA)

Artist's impression of the VAST space station — Artist’s impression of the VAST space station

Artificial-gravity habitats for space tourism and manufacturing, to be launched and serviced using SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon. From late 2025.

FEASIBILITY: Backed by financier Jed McCaleb. Artificial gravity will make for
a less desirable test environment.

Gateway (USA/Europe/Japan/Canada)

Artist's impression of NASA's Lunar Gateway in orbit around the Moon. Credit: NASA/Alberto Bertolin — Artist’s impression of NASA’s Lunar Gateway in orbit around the Moon. Credit: NASA/Alberto Bertolin

In lunar orbit, this five-module station will serve as a base camp on the way to the Moon’s surface.

FEASIBILITY: Needs SLS or Falcon Heavy launches. First module launches late 2025. NASA’s Capstone CubeSat is currently trialling Gateway’s elliptical orbit.

This article appeared in the November 2023 issue of BBC Sky at Night Magazine