Congress extends ISS and tells NASA to get moving on private space stations

March 6, 2026

TL;DR

A Senate committee passed a NASA Authorization bill to expedite the development of commercial space stations.
The bill sets 60-day and 90-day deadlines for NASA to release commercial space station requirements and requests for proposals, respectively.
Contracts with at least two commercial providers are mandated within 180 days of the law's passage.
The bill extends the International Space Station's lifespan from 2030 to 2032, contingent on international approval.
De-orbiting of the ISS is prohibited until a commercial low-Earth orbit destination reaches initial operational capability.
Companies like Axiom Space and Vast have recently raised substantial funding for their space station projects.
Both Axiom Space and Vast have publicly welcomed the legislative push for commercial space stations.

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