NASA plans to retire the International Space Station by the end of 2030.
Several nations worked together to build the International Space Station. In cooperation with the space agencies, NASA, ESA, JAXA, CSA, and Roscosmos, the construction, which began in 1998, officially concluded in 2011.
But, it started to accommodate people in 2000. Astronauts and cosmonauts have lived there ever since that year.
More than two decades later, space agencies hinted that the space station will soon retire. In preparation for its retirement, the CLD program emerged, which will see private companies build new space stations.
On Thursday, NASA awarded the contracts to three companies. The total amount of the deal is $415.6 million, with each company receiving different amounts.
NASA awarded contracts under the CLD project
NASA previously revealed that it received a total of 11 proposals for the Commercial LEO Destinations project. Out of the “roughly dozen” bids, three won the contracts: Blue Origin, Nanoracks, and Northrop Grumman.
CNBC said that Nanoracks received the largest individual award. The space agency awarded the company with over AU$226 million.
Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin came in second with nearly AU$184 million. As for Northrop Grumman, the company received a AU$177.7 million award for the project.
Meanwhile, Axiom Space, which already won NASA contracts involving the ISS, did not bid for the CLD program. It did congratulate the winners, though, adding that it “looks forward to the shared vision of a thriving commercial network” in low Earth orbit (LEO).
Proposal for the new space stations
The three space companies have already released some information about their respective proposals for the CLD project. Nanoracks, which won the largest award sum, is calling its space station “Starlab.”
Blue Origin, on the other hand, has the “Orbital Reef” station concept, according to TechCrunch.
As for Northrop, the company did not reportedly give a “flashy name” for its space station bid.
About the Commercial Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Destinations program
The Commercial Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Destinations project is an effort to turn to private companies for new space stations. Reports said that the U.S.-based space agency expects to save about AU$1.4 billion per year because of the program.
From an investment perspective, the agency says that it “has to work for both the government and the private sector.” Accordingly, it is not footing the overall costs when it comes to building new space stations.
Instead of building and owning the components on its own, NASA turns to private deals and partnerships for its goals in space. This has been reportedly a successful model for the agency in the last decade.
Images courtesy of NASA/YouTube