As NASA moves away from the ISS and toward commercial alternatives, developers of commercial space stations are voicing concerns about the agency's reexamination of sustaining a continuous human presence in low Earth orbit (LEO).

After the ISS is abandoned in 2030, NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy has hinted that the agency may place more importance on preserving a "continuous capability" in space than a "continuous heartbeat." The next stage of NASA's Commercial LEO Development (CLD) program will be guided by this reevaluation, and money for ISS alternatives is scheduled to be granted in 2026.

Tejpaul Bhatia, chief revenue officer of Axiom Space, stressed the significance of maintaining humans in space continuously during the Deutsche Bank Global Space Summit. He maintained that for the good of the nation, business, and research, NASA should take the initiative. He said that although he recognizes the need for setting reasonable objectives, we ought to aspire higher.

However, Vast CEO Max Haot praised the concept of taking a step-by-step approach, pointing out that having permanent, instant personnel presence on new space stations might impede development. Because it takes time to improve life-support technology in orbit, no space station has ever been permanently manned from the start, according to Haot.

Haot suggested an alternative: while the ISS is still in service, NASA may purchase a first module intended for three to six months of temporary residence. A permanently manned station might ultimately be possible with this staged approach, which would allow for advancements over time. Haot stated that starting small and iterating in orbit is preferable to delaying progress while awaiting perfection.

NASA must strike a balance between innovation and pragmatism as its decision draws near in order to guarantee both scientific advancement and the continuous advancement of commercial space initiatives.