As the ISS nears its retirement date at the end of the decade, companies are vying to build its commercial successor under NASA’s Commercial LEO Destination (CLD) program.
Context: In 2021, the space agency announced it would invest in developing at least one commercial space station to succeed the ISS that would work with NASA and commercial customers. In March 2026, NASA officials pivoted, saying they don’t believe a commercial business case exists yet in LEO. As a result, they proposed substantial changes to the program, including buying a core module that will connect to the ISS where private modules could dock.
Industry pushed back, arguing that there was a market and that operating while attached to a government stationed eroded a lot of the benefits of a commercial platform.
In June 2026, NASA announced it had heard industry’s argument, and would move ahead with its original plan to support at least one commercial free flyer.
In December 2021, NASA awarded a combined $416M to three entities then working on stations:
- A Nanoracks-led team, which included Voyager and Lockheed Martin, won $160M.
- A Blue Origin-led team won $130M to design its Orbital Reef station.
- Northrop Grumman won $125.6M to attempt to retrofit existing tech into a space station.
The players: Here are the companies now at the forefront of the CLD competition:
- Vast is expecting to launch its Haven-1 space station in Q1 2027. The single-module station is aiming to initially host up to four commercial astronauts for two-week missions.
- Axiom Space is planning to launch a two-module station by 2028, with long-term plans to operate an independent four-module station. It is the only competitor to have already led commercial flights to the ISS.
- Starlab, which is being built by a joint venture between Voyager Technologies and Airbus, is aiming to launch its station in 2029. (This is the current form of the Nanoracks-led proposal from 2021.)
Upcoming milestones: NASA is expected to release an updated draft RFP in June 2026,
Recent headlines:
- CLD Companies Say NASA is Wrong. NASA Says Prove It.
- NASA Reverts to Original CLD Procurement Plan
- CLDs: 2025 Wrapped
- Axiom Space Adjusts Space Station Plans
This article was last updated June 3, 2026.
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