NASA wants companies to develop and build new space stations, with up to $400 million up for grabs
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration last year marked two decades of astronauts continuously onboard the International Space Station. But, as the floating research laboratory ages, the space agency is turning to private companies to build and deploy new free-flying habitats in low Earth orbit.
The commercial LEO Destination (CLD) project was unveiled by NASA this past week with plans to award up to $400 million in total to as many as four companies in the fourth quarter of 2021 to begin development on private space stations.
NASA is pursuing to copy the success of its Commercial Cargo and Commercial Crew programs. Those programs saw three companies take over for NASA as its mean of sending cargo and astronauts to the International Space Station.
In May, NASA will release a final announcement for CLD proposals, with the first phase of funding awards expected between October and December. NASA’s Johnson Space Center will manage the CLD program through its commercial LEO development office.
