Three leading initiatives presented at the Ilan Ramon International Conference; NASA clarifies that the goal is one or more stations and the purchase of services from one or more companies
As part of the 21st Ilan Ramon Memorial Space Conference, held in collaboration between the Israel Space Agency at the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology and the Raki'a-Hal'ts Mission – the professional flagship event of Israel Space Week 2026 that focused on the changing landscape of manned space and the Israeli national vision – three leading initiatives were presented that are intended to shape the era after the International Space Station (ISS).
In the session "Beyond the ISS: The Future of Human Presence in Orbit", representatives of the three leading companies presented their concepts: Michael Lopez-Alegria, Chief Astronaut Commander of Axiom Space, My Tom, Vice President of Recruiting at Vast, andJeffrey Manbar, a special representative for the Chairman and CEO of Voyager Technologies, which is leading the Starlab project. The session included short presentations by experts from the developing companies, followed by a moderated panel and audience questions on "Commercial Space Stations: Building a Post-ISS Era."
The common denominator of the three initiatives is a critical strategic need: maintaining continuity of human presence and research in microgravity in low Earth orbit even after the retirement of the ISS – a goal that NASA indicates around 2020. 2030system. (NASA)
Is this a tender where one winner will be chosen?
NASA explicitly states that it is pursuing **"one or more stations in orbit"** in order to maintain competition and reduce costs. After the development phase, the agency intends to purchase services fromOne or more companies.
On its official page on commercial space stations, NASA details a three-stage model, including explicit mention thatPhase 3 A way will be made Contract(s) According to the FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulation), and that it plans Award a number of funded Phase 2 agreements In a full and open competition.
NASA's Strategy: Transitioning from a Government Station to a Commercial Services Market
NASA is presenting a gradual transition strategy: in the first phase, it supports the development of designs and subsystems through agreements and contracts, with the goal of reaching a state where NASA will be One customer among many customers of commercial stations in low orbit.
In January 2024, the agency updated and expanded the milestones and funding for two funded partnerships (Orbital Reef and Starlab), explicitly stating the goal "one or more stations in orbit" And then comes the phase of purchasing services.
Axiom Space: An evolutionary approach through connection to the ISS
Axiom Space proposes a gradual development path: starting with commercial modules that dock with the ISS, gaining operational and research experience, and then transforming the array into a free-flying station before the ISS is retired. NASA awarded Axiom a contract in 2020 to develop at least one manned module that will dock with the ISS, with the goal of achieving an independent commercial station.
In a January 2024 update, NASA noted that it was negotiating an expanded contractual scope with Axiom, in parallel with Space Act agreements with other partnerships.
This approach attempts to mitigate risks by using the ISS as a “transitional stage,” allowing testing and operation under real-world operating conditions before transitioning to an independent station. However, it is dependent on the schedules of the final phase of the ISS’s life and the rate of module production and integration.
Vast and Starlab: Two Different Structural Approaches
Permanent Developing the Haven-1 As a relatively small commercial station, with an emphasis on rapid arrival in orbit. On the company's website, Haven-1 is presented as the first commercial space station of its kind as part of a path to broader development. (vastspace.com) The next step, Haven-2, depends largely on NASA's expectations and decisions within the framework of the Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) programs.
Vast reported an agreement with NASA to conduct an environmental testing campaign for the Haven-1 flight vehicle at NASA test facilities – an indication of technical cooperation, even if not necessarily full funding of a station as part of the main development phase. (vastspace.com)
starlab, led by Voyager Technologies, is positioned as a comprehensive research solution for the post-ISS era. On NASA's official website, Starlab is listed as a key partner in the development plans. After Northrop Grumman withdrew from a separate agreement, NASA joined in supporting the Starlab effort.
In January 2024, NASA added additional milestones and funding to Starlab, including components related to integration, testing, and docking capability – an emphasis not only on design, but also on operational feasibility.
The conference session allowed participants to hear directly from the project leaders about the technological and operational concepts, and the role of the emerging platforms in enabling research, industry, and sustained human presence in low Earth orbit.
